Abstract

The production of milk during lactation requires tran-scriptional activation of milk protein genes. This is facili-tated by the binding of nuclear factors to the gene promoter. The DNA binding activity of some of these factors appears to be controlled by lactogenic hormones, although many aspects of this process are not understood. Determining the precise molecular mechanism of transcriptional control and which nuclear factors are involved will facilitate the manipulation of milk composition. Recently, a transcrip-tion factor called Stat5 has been shown to be required for the activation of the rat β-casein gene (Schmitt-Ney et al., 1991), the sheep β-lactoglobulin gene (Burdon et al.,1994) and the rat whey acidic protein gene (Li and Rosen, 1995). This protein is activated during late pregnancy and through-out lactation in the mammary gland of mice (Schmitt-Ney et al.,1992). We have used the Stat5 DNA recognition sequence in this study to investigate the activity of Stat5 in the bovine mammary gland.

YM, Kuys, RG Snell, and TT Wheeler

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 56, , 68-70, 1996