Computational analysis of milk sources from different domestic animals as supplementary food source to protect Lathyrism

Abstract Lathyrism, a neurological disease caused by excessive consumption of Lathyrus sativus due to presence of non protein amino acid beta-N-oxylamino-L-alanin acid (BOAA) or beta N-oxalyl diamino propionic acid (beta-ODAP) results in non progressive spastic paralysis in human and animals. The lathyrism thought to cause due to sulfur amino acids deficiency. To investigate the protective action of sulfur rich amino acids (Cysteine and Methionine) in four milk proteins viz. alpha S1 casein, alpha S2 casein, beta casein and kappa casein present in common milk sources of cow ( Bos Taurus ), buffalo ( Bubalus bubalis ), goat ( Capra hircus ) and sheep ( Ovis aries ). ProtParam, CLUSTALW and PSIpred were used to analyze primary structure, multiple sequence alignment and secondary structure respectively. Current study revealed that buffalo and sheep milk contain highest amount of Cysteine and Methionine (14.2%) as sulfur rich amino acids, cow milk has significant amount of Cysteine and Methionine (13.1%) while goat milk contain lowest amount of Cysteine and Methionine (13.0%). This study paves the way that buffalo and sheep milk are the best sources of sulfur amino acids than the other two and can be used as supplementary food to protect Lathyrism.