Analysis of Melatonin Secretion Patterns in Buffalo Milk and Its Association with AANAT Polymorphisms
4 affiliations
- 1Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Buffalo Milk Quality and Safety Control Technology Engineering Research Center, Guangxi Buffalo Research Institute, Nanning 530001, China
- 2Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Breeding and Disease Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
- 3Guangxi Zhuang Autonomus Region Center for Analysis and Test Research, Nanning 530022, China
- 4College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510640, China
Abstract
Melatonin (MT) is an important bioactive functional component of milk, where its content and biosynthetic mechanism are of considerable relevance to the quality regulation of dairy buffalo milk. This study aimed to investigate the variation patterns and biosynthetic mechanisms of melatonin in milk from dairy buffaloes. A total of 125 buffalo milk samples were collected, and MT content was determined using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). MT secretion patterns were evaluated according to breed, lactation, parity, and milking time (light exposure). In addition, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data were used to screen for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which are significantly associated with melatonin biosynthetic enzyme genes. The results showed that breed, milking time, and lactation were the major factors affecting MT content in buffalo milk. Based on the WGS data, two SNPs significantly associated with MT secretion and synthesis were identified within the aralkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) region, among which the GG genotype at 3-8019407 and the CC genotype at 3-8019446 were associated with higher MT content. The MT content for both wild-type homozygotes was 59.54 pg/mL, which was higher than that of heterozygotes (39.12 pg/mL) (p < 0.05). With the exception of SNP2 and SNP8, all other SNPs were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. These findings will serve as a reference for the subsequent selection and identification of breeding materials for high MT dairy buffalo, as well as for the development of high MT buffalo milk products.
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BibTeX
@article{you2026analysis,
title = {{Analysis of Melatonin Secretion Patterns in Buffalo Milk and Its Association with AANAT Polymorphisms}},
author = {Songyuan You and Yiheng Fu and Yanghua Li and Jiaqi Jiang and Eng Huan Hau and Xingqi Wei and Zhixiang Long and Qingkun Zeng and Qingyou Liu and Ling Li},
journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/ijms27209178},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/9178},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Analysis of Melatonin Secretion Patterns in Buffalo Milk and Its Association with AANAT Polymorphisms
AU - Songyuan You
AU - Yiheng Fu
AU - Yanghua Li
AU - Jiaqi Jiang
AU - Eng Huan Hau
AU - Xingqi Wei
AU - Zhixiang Long
AU - Qingkun Zeng
AU - Qingyou Liu
AU - Ling Li
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DO - 10.3390/ijms27209178
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/9178
AB - Melatonin (MT) is an important bioactive functional component of milk, where its content and biosynthetic mechanism are of considerable relevance to the quality regulation of dairy buffalo milk. This study aimed to investigate the variation patterns and biosynthetic mechanisms of melatonin in milk from dairy buffaloes. A total of 125 buffalo milk samples were collected, and MT content was determined using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). MT secretion patterns were evaluated according to breed, lactation, parity, and milking time (light exposure). In addition, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data were used to screen for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which are significantly associated with melatonin biosynthetic enzyme genes. The results showed that breed, milking time, and lactation were the major factors affecting MT content in buffalo milk. Based on the WGS data, two SNPs significantly associated with MT secretion and synthesis were identified within the aralkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) region, among which the GG genotype at 3-8019407 and the CC genotype at 3-8019446 were associated with higher MT content. The MT content for both wild-type homozygotes was 59.54 pg/mL, which was higher than that of heterozygotes (39.12 pg/mL) (p < 0.05). With the exception of SNP2 and SNP8, all other SNPs were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. These findings will serve as a reference for the subsequent selection and identification of breeding materials for high MT dairy buffalo, as well as for the development of high MT buffalo milk products.
SN - 1422-0067
ER -