Ovalbumin, ovotransferrin, lysozyme: three model proteins for structural modifications at the air-water interface

J Agric Food Chem. 2003 Oct 8;51(21):6354-61. doi: 10.1021/jf034184n.

Abstract

Structural modifications of ovalbumin, ovotransferrin, and lysozyme at the air-water interface have been investigated using SDS-PAGE, both intrinsic and ANS fluorometry, and circular dichroism experiments. Ovalbumin contact with an interface induced an exposure of aromatic residues, a slight decrease in alpha-helix structures (-1.7%), and an increase in both beta-sheet (+3.4%) and beta-turn (+7.9%) structures. Moreover, these conformational changes led to the formation of insoluble polymers of ovalbumin through intermolecular disulfide bonds. Ovotransferrin contact with an interface led to an increase in its surface hydrophobicity (+30%) and modifications of its secondary structure (-33% of alpha-helices, +96.4% of beta-sheets, +13.2% of beta-turns, and +21.2% of random coils), characteristic of major conformational changes. On the other hand, lysozyme did not undergo any structural modification. These results clearly underscore that at the air-water interface proteins are susceptible to denaturation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Air*
  • Chemical Phenomena
  • Chemistry, Physical
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Conalbumin / chemistry*
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Fluorometry
  • Muramidase / chemistry*
  • Ovalbumin / chemistry*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Denaturation
  • Water / chemistry*

Substances

  • Water
  • Conalbumin
  • Ovalbumin
  • Muramidase