Complete sequence determination of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) beta-casein mRNA transcripts isolated from somatic milk cells

The primary structure of water buffalo (Bubalus bulbalis) beta-casein was d etermined by means of DNA sequencing. It could be demonstrated that fresh c ow's or buffalo's milk contain enough viable cells to isolate undegraded mR NAs. Complete beta-casein transcripts were isolated from somatic milk cells , thus mammary gland biopsies were no longer required. The presence of mamm ary-specific transcripts within milk was confirmed by use of Northern blot and beta-casein-specific RT-PCR. Furthermore, using the rapid amplification of cDNA ends technique, the first complete: water buffalo beta-casein tran script was sequenced and an open reading frame (48-722 bases) identified. T he resulting amino acid sequence (209 aa) showed high homology with other k nown ruminant beta-caseins (>92%) and was identical to the B variant which was recently reported.