Sialidases (3.2.1.18) may exhibit trans-sialidase activity to catalyze sialylation of lactose if the active site topology is congruent with that of the Trypanosoma cruzi trans-sialidase (EC 2.4.1.-). The present work was undertaken to test the hypothesis that a particular aromatic sandwich structure of two amino acids proximal to the active site of the T. cruzi trans-sialidase infers trans-sial...

In recent years, the potential of glycosylated food components to positively influence health has received considerable attention. Milk is a rich source of biologically active glycoconjugates which are associated with antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, anti-adhesion, anti-inflammatory and prebiotic properties. Glycomacropeptide (GMP) is the C-terminal portion of kappa-casein that is released from...

Phenylketonuria (PKU; MIM 261600) is an inborn error of amino acid metabolism caused by reduced phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH; EC 1.14.16.1) activity (Blau et al 2010). After the discover by Dr. Asbjørn Følling (Folling 1994), the first treatment approach was proposed by Dr. Horst Bickel in 1950s (Bickel et al 1953). Despite new therapies have recently emerged [large neutral amino acids (LNAA)...

Human milk compared with infant formulas contains considerably more sialic acid (SA) and cholesterol. Because both compounds accumulate rapidly in the frontal cortex in infancy, it has been suggested these compounds may be conditionally essential nutrients for brain development. A limited number of animal studies demonstrate that dietary cholesterol and SA increase cortical cholesterol and SA c...

Milk processing industries and distributors have problems with adulteration of liquid milk by the addition of bovine cheese whey. Recently, the detection of fraudulent manipulation of milk with whey has focused on the identification of glycomacropeptide (GMP). Current non-immunological methods to detect GMP in dairy products are expensive and time-consuming or have low sensitivity. In this stud...