Project description:
Dairy production of cheese and casein results in the formation of by-products containing high concentrations of proteins with health-promoting properties. For example, several clinical studies have shown positive health effects of intake of the milk proteins alpha-lactalbumin, caseinoglycomacropeptide (CGMP) and osteopontin. The underlying mechanism for the health beneficial effects of the components is unknown. In this project we will use advanced digestion models, state-of-the-art gene expression analysis and highly sensitive mass spectrometry to investigate how osteopontin, CGMP and alpha-lactalbumin are digested and how the resulting peptides affect the gut cells, penetrate the intestinal wall and distributes in the tissues and organs of an animal model.