Occurrence of major whey proteins in the pH 4.6 insoluble protein fraction from UHT-treated milk

J Agric Food Chem. 2012 Aug 15;60(32):8044-50. doi: 10.1021/jf3024563. Epub 2012 Jul 31.

Abstract

A clear picture of the protein rearrangement in milk following UHT-treatment was drawn by a comparative analysis of the pH 4.6 soluble protein fraction (SPF) and the pH 4.6 insoluble protein fraction (IPF) recovered from raw and UHT-treated milk samples. The two protein fractions were analyzed by mono- or bidimensional gel electrophoresis under reducing and nonreducing conditions, and protein bands were identified by specific immunostaining. Results showed that bovine serum albumin, β-lactoglobulin, and, to a lesser extent, α-lactalbumin coprecipitated with caseins in UHT-treated milk samples at pH 4.6. These proteins were almost exclusively involved in high molecular weight aggregates held together by disulfide bonds. Partition of α-lactalbumin and bovine serum albumin in the protein fractions obtained upon acidification of milk at pH 4.6 was evaluated by competitive immunoassays. The ELISA-based results suggested the possibility of using pH 4.6 insoluble α-lactalbumin and bovine serum albumin, in addition to pH 4.6 insoluble β-lactoglobulin, as indicators of the intensity of the heat treatment applied to milk.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caseins / analysis
  • Food Handling / methods*
  • Hot Temperature*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Lactalbumin / analysis
  • Lactoglobulins / analysis
  • Milk / chemistry*
  • Milk Proteins / analysis*
  • Milk Proteins / chemistry
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine / analysis
  • Solubility

Substances

  • Caseins
  • Lactoglobulins
  • Milk Proteins
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine
  • Lactalbumin