Hydrophobic interactions in human casein micelle formation: beta-casein aggregation.
The association of non-phosphorylated (0-P) and fully phosphorylated (5-P) human beta-caseins was studied by fluorescence spectroscopy and laser light scattering. The tryptophan fluorescence intensity (FI) level increased between 20 and 35 degrees C, indicating a change in the environment of that residue. A similar transition occurred when ANS was used as a probe. Transition temperatures were slightly lower in 10 mM-CaCl2 but were not affected by an equivalent increase in ionic strength caused by NaCl. The magnitude of the FI change was less for the 5-P than the 0-P protein but was increased for both by CaCl2 addition. These FI data were characteristic of a conformational change and this was supported by fluorescence polarization which indicated that with CaCl2, tryptophan and ANS mobility increased at the transition temperature even though the extent of protein association also increased. Light scattering suggested that protein association proceeded with the primary formation of submicellar aggregates containing 20-30 monomers which then associated further to form particles of minimum micelle size (12-15 submicelles), and eventually larger. The temperature of precipitation of the 5-P form in the presence of CaCl2 was lower than the conformational transition and suggested that both hydrophobic interactions and Ca bridges between phosphate esters on adjacent molecules are important in micelle formation.
Department of Biochemistry, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, California 92350.
C W
CW
Slattery
S M
SM
Sood
P
P
Chang
D002364:Caseins / Q000032:analysis*; D005454:Fluorescence Polarization; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007834:Lasers; D010766:Phosphorylation; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
D002364:Caseins