Impact of Alginate Mannuronic-Guluronic Acid Contents and pH on Protein Binding Capacity and Complex Size

Biomacromolecules. 2021 Feb 8;22(2):649-660. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c01485. Epub 2021 Jan 8.

Abstract

Alginates, serving as hydrocolloids in the food and pharma industries, form particles at pH < 4.5 with positively charged proteins, such as β-lactoglobulin (β-Lg). Alginates are linear anionic polysaccharides composed of 1,4-linked β-d-mannuronate (M) and α-l-guluronate (G) residues. The impact of M and G contents and pH is investigated to correlate with the formation and size of β-Lg alginate complexes under relevant ionic strength. It is concluded, using three alginates of M/G ratios 0.6, 1.1, and 1.8 and similar molecular mass, that β-Lg binding capacity is higher at pH 4.0 than at pH 2.65 and for high M content. By contrast, the largest particles are obtained at pH 2.65 and with high G content. At pH 4.0 and 2.65, the stoichiometry was 28-48 and 3-10 β-Lg molecules bound per alginate, respectively, increasing with higher M content. The findings will contribute to the design of formation of the desired alginate-protein particles in the acidic pH range.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alginates*
  • Glucuronic Acid
  • Hexuronic Acids
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Protein Binding

Substances

  • Alginates
  • Hexuronic Acids
  • guluronic acid
  • Glucuronic Acid