Interactions between milk proteins and exopolysaccharides produced by Lactococcus lactis observed by scanning electron microscopy.
The interactions between exopolysaccharides produced by Lactococcus lactis ssp. cremoris JFR1 and dairy proteins (caseins and whey proteins) in fermented media (milk permeate and buttermilk) were observed using scanning electron microscopy. An immobilization technique by crosslinking was employed to bind the protein to the observation surface, so that a washing step could be performed to remove noninteracting material. The use of this novel technique allowed us, for the first time, to confirm that the exopolysaccharide molecules interact with dairy proteins. Exopolysaccharides appear as filament strands attached to the protein aggregates and to the bacterial cells. This new sample preparation technique proved to be very valuable for observing molecular interactions in fermented media.
Department of Food Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
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Ayala-Hernandez
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Goff
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Corredig
D000818:Animals; D002364:Caseins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D043302:Cultured Milk Products / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D005285:Fermentation; D013294:Lactococcus lactis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods*; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000067816:Whey Proteins
D002364:Caseins; D008894:Milk Proteins; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D000067816:Whey Proteins