The Structure and Digestive Characteristics of Caprine and Bovine Lactopontin

Lactopontin (LPN) plays a critical role in the growth and development of infants. Caprine milk and bovine milk are the primary raw materials for infant formulas. However, the differences between caprine and bovine LPN have not been studied. In this study, the structure, digestive characteristics, and active peptide composition of LPN from different sources were compared. Two N-glycosylation sites, Asn101 and Asn208, were identified in bovine LPN, while a single N-glycosylation site, Asn79, was found in caprine LPN. The <i>in vitro</i> infant digestion simulation results indicated that caprine LPN released a greater quantity of small peptides and amino acids. The intestinal digestion products were subsequently analyzed. The digestive peptides derived from caprine LPN may possess various potential biological functions. These findings provide insights into optimizing protein digestion and nutrient absorption in infant formula.