Genetics and Biosynthesis of Milk Proteins

The mammary gland acts as a bio-factory to produce in large amount few proteins by transcribing temporally and spatially regulated genes and translating their mRNA. The aim of this chapter is to summarize briefly our knowledge on the structure of the milk protein genes and to put into context the rapid growth of information on the regulatory elements involved in controlling the expression of these genes. It also describes the amino acid supply to the mammary gland and the intracellular transport and sorting of milk proteins in the secretory pathway of mammary cells.