Two main genetic variants of κ-casein, A and B, are found in Holstein cows. A
positive association between the κ-casein B genetic variant and milk characteristics
of economic importance have been reported (reviews: Creamer & Harris, 1997; Ng-Kwai-Hang,
1998). This can be explained, at least in part, by a higher κ-casein
content of the casein in milk of cows having the κ-casein B genetic variant (Donnelly
et al. 1984; Law, 1993). We have recently reported the presence of a differential allele-specific
expression of the κ-casein gene in Holstein cows by comparing the content of
allele-A and allele-B specific mRNA in the mammocytes of lactating cows genotyped
κ-casein AB (Robitaille & Petitclerc, 2000). For some cows, the A- and B-specific
κ-casein gene alleles were expressed in a similar manner. These cows are named HH
here to indicate that they were homozygous for κ-casein gene expression. The other
group of cows, cows HL, presented a differential allele specific expression of the κ-casein
gene allele B which was overexpressed compared to allele A. The genetic
polymorphism governing this differential allele-specific expression of the κ-casein
gene is likely to affect the physico-chemical properties of casein micelles and, hence,
the technological properties of milk, as κ-casein is considered to be the stabilizing
component of the milk micelles. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect
of this expression polymorphism of the κ-casein gene on milk ethanol stability.