Can all mammals synthesize lactose?

Lactation is one of the defining characteristics of mammals. Milk is a very rich nutrient and is the
primary source of food for young mammals.

Lactose is synthesized within the Golgi apparatus of epithelial cells of the lactating mammary glands,
by the interaction between beta-1,4-Galactosyltransferase (Gal-T1) and alpha-lactalbumin (LA).

Gal-T1, which is a complex of galactosyltransferase and LALB, constitutes its normal

galactosyltransferase activity by transferring galactose from UDP-Gal to N-acetylglucosamine
(GlcNAc). LALB is only present in mammal epithelial cells (MEC), allowing galactosyltransferase to be
specific. In MEC, LALB changes substrate specificity from GlcNAc to glucose. In fact, the lactose
synthesis depends directly on the amount of LALB associated with the galactosyltransferase.

In conclusion, the interaction between Gal-T1 and LA results lactose synthesis and any placental
mammal can form a lactose synthase complex that can synthesize lactose by using those substances.

Duru Açıkkapı 9/H