title: Charge-dependent insertion of beta-lactoglobulin into monoglyceride monolayers.
abstract: The interactions between beta-lactoglobulin and 1-monostearoyl-glycerol were studied in order to gain insight into protein-gel-phase monoglyceride interactions. Using a monomolecular layer at the air-water interface, we determined the insertion of beta-lactoglobulin into the monoglycerides under different conditions of protein and surface charge by varying the pH and/or incorporating charged amphiphiles into the monolayer, respectively, and using subphases with either a low or high ionic strength. The interactions were quantified by determining the binding of 14C-labeled beta-lactoglobulin to the monolayer. Our results show the importance of electrostatics for binding of beta-lactoglobulin to condensed monoglycerides. Moreover, electrostatic interactions were found to be important for specific insertion of beta-lactoglobulin into the monolayer. A negatively charged surface in particular allowed positively charged beta-lactoglobulin to insert in a surface charge density-dependent manner, even at surface pressures as high as 36 mN/m, whereas under other conditions, the limiting insertion pressure was 32 mN/m. The rheological properties of the monolayer were not affected by the interactions with beta-lactoglobulin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry of Membranes, Centre for Biomembranes and Lipid Enzymology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Leenhouts
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Demel
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de Kruijff
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Boots
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D005989:Glycerides / Q000737:chemistry*; D007782:Lactoglobulins / Q000737:chemistry*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D055672:Static Electricity
chemical_list: D005989:Glycerides; D007782:Lactoglobulins