Oligosaccharides and glycoproteins produced in milk of transgenic

Abstract

The invention relates to humanized milk. The milk is produced by a non-human transgenic mammal wherein the genome of said transgenic non-human mammal contains at least one heterologous gene encoding for a human catalytic entity and wherein the catalytic entity produces oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates that are present in the milk of said transgenic non-human mammal. An especially useful catalytic entity is human glycosyltransferases which produce oligosaccharides and glyconjugates. Specifically exemplified, is the production of 2'-fucosyl-lactose in the milk of transgenic mice which contain and express a transgene encoding .alpha.-1,2-fucosyltransferase operatively linked to a mammary gland specific promoter. A method of obtaining humanized milk is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of (a) inserting into the genome of a non-human mammal a heterologous gene encoding the production of a human catalytic entity wherein said catalytic entity produces a secondary gene product in the milk of said non-human mammal; and (b) milking said non-human mammal. The humanized milk may be used in the preparation of an enteral nutritional product useful in the nutritive maintenance of an animal.