title: Casein polymorphism heterogeneity influences casein micelle size in milk of individual cows.
abstract: Milk samples from individual cows producing small (148-155 nm) or large (177-222 nm) casein micelles were selected to investigate the relationship between the individual casein proteins, specifically κ- and β-casein phenotypes, and casein micelle size. Only κ-casein AA and β-casein A1A1, A1A2 and A2A2 phenotypes were found in the large casein micelle group. Among the small micelle group, both κ-casein and β-casein phenotypes were more diverse. κ-Casein AB was the dominant phenotype, and 3 combinations (AA, AB, and BB) were present in the small casein micelle group. A considerable mix of β-casein phenotypes was found, including B and I variants, which were only found in the small casein micelle group. The relative amount of κ-casein to total casein was significantly higher in the small micelle group, and the nonglycosylated and glycosylated κ-casein contents were higher in the milks with small casein micelles (primarily with κ-casein AB and BB variants) compared with the large micelle group. The ratio of glycosylated to nonglycosylated κ-casein was higher in the milks with small casein micelles compared with the milks with large casein micelles. This suggests that although the amount of κ-casein (both glycosylated and nonglycosylated) is associated with micelle size, an increased proportion of glycosylated κ-casein could be a more important and favorable factor for small micelle size. This suggests that the increased spatial requirement due to addition of the glycosyl group with increasing extent of glycosylation of κ-casein is one mechanism that controls casein micelle assembly and growth. In addition, increased electrostatic repulsion due to the sialyl residues on the glycosyl group could be a contributory factor.
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Food and Nutrition Flagship, 671 Sneydes Road, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia; AgResearch Ltd. Grasslands Research Centre, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand. Electronic address: li.day@agresearch.co.nz.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Day
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Food and Nutrition Flagship, 671 Sneydes Road, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia.
authors.forename: R P W
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: AgResearch Ltd. Grasslands Research Centre, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Otter
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Food and Nutrition Flagship, 671 Sneydes Road, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Augustin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002364:Caseins / Q000737:chemistry*; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006031:Glycosylation; D008823:Micelles; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002364:Caseins; D008823:Micelles
keywords: casein micelle size; glycosylation; β-casein phenotype; κ-casein phenotype