Identification and characterization of yak α-lactalbumin and β-lactoglobulin

α-Lactalbumin (α-LA) and β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) were isolated from yak milk and identified by mass spectrometry. The variant of α-LA (L8IIC8) in yak milk had 123 amino acids, and the sequence differed from α-LA from bovine milk. The amino acid at site 71 was Asn (N) in domestic yak milk, but Asp (D) in bovine and wild yak milk sequences. Yak β-LG had 2 variants, β-LG A (P02754) and β-LG E (L8J1Z0). Both domestic yak and wild yak milk contained β-LG E, but it was absent in bovine milk. The amino acid at site 158 of β-Lg E was Gly (G) in yak but Glu (E) in bovine. The yak α-LA and β-LG secondary structures were slightly different from those in bovine milk. The denaturation temperatures of yak α-LA and β-LG were 52.1°C and 80.9°C, respectively. This study provides insights relevant to food functionality, food safety control, and the biological properties of yak milk products.