title: Bioactivity of α-lactalbumin related to its interaction with fatty acids: a review.
abstract: α-Lactalbumin (α-LA) is a whey protein that has been extensively studied for its folding properties and its ability to bind several cations. An interesting property of α-LA is its ability to interact with fatty acids, although this interaction requires the previous unfolding of the protein by removing the Ca(2+) bound. The main function of α-LA is to participate in lactose biosynthesis. However, other biological functions have been attributed to the protein in the last decade. It has been reported that a particular form of human and bovine apo-α-LA induces apoptosis in tumoral and immature cells though spares healthy differentiated cells. The conversion of α-LA to the active apoptotic form requires the unfolding of the protein and the binding of specific fatty acids, mainly unsaturated C18 fatty acids in the cis-conformation. Likewise, it has been shown that a folding variant of α-LA and also some peptidic fragments have a bactericidal activity. The proposed functions for α-LA open new perspectives for its use as a potential ingredient to be added in functional foods or in nutraceutical products. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on the subject of the interaction of α-LA with fatty acids, and the consequences of this interaction on its bioactivity.
authors.affiliation: Bioquímica y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Universidad de Zaragoza , Spain. barbana@unizar.es
authors.forename: Chockry
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barbana
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: María D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Pérez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002417:Cattle; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D007768:Lactalbumin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005227:Fatty Acids; D007768:Lactalbumin