CHARACTERIZATION OF CASEINS FROM MONGOLIAN YAK, KHAINAK, AND BACTRIANCAMEL

The composition of acid-precipitated caseins from ruminant Mongolian d omestic animals was analyzed and a comparative study between camel (Ca melus bactrianus) and dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) was realized. Ac id-precipitated whole caseins were analyzed for amino acid composition , separated by anion exchange chromatography and identified by alkalin e urea-PAGE. Elution profiles and electrophoretic mobilities of the ma in components of yak and khainak caseins were nearly identical to thei r cow counterparts. However, the main part of alpha(S1)-casein of yak was eluted in lower molarity in NaCl. Characterization by PAGE, amino acid composition and N-terminal sequence of individual caseins from ca mel (Camelus bactrianus) indicated that milk of this ruminant contains dominantly alpha(S1)-, alpha(S2)-, and beta-casein and small amounts of K-casein as is the case for the milk of dromedary (Camelus dromedar ius).