Human Alpha Lactalbumin, ALPHA-LA ELI

Regulatory subunit of lactose synthase, changes the substrate specificity of galactosyltransferase in the mammary gland making glucose a good acceptor substrate for this enzyme.

This enables LS to synthesize lactose, the major carbohydrate component of milk.

In other tissues, galactosyltransferase transfers galactose onto the N-acetylglucosamine of the oligosaccharide chains in glycoproteins.