Interaction of alkylsulfonate ligands with beta-lactoglobulin AB from bovine milk

The interaction of alkyl sulfonate ligands (AL) with bovine beta-lactoglobulin AB was measured using Trp fluorescence enhancement. One binding site per protein molecule was observed. The location of this site was related with the dimer formation and could be coincident with the fatty acids and SDS binding site. The apparent binding constants for AL were in the range of 10(-)(6) M, at pH 6.8. At pH 3.0 no binding was observed by this fluorescence method. The strength of the interaction was decreasing in the following way: AL16 > AL12 > AL14 >> AL10. Other sites on the monomer were evidenced by the protective action of the AL toward the urea unfolding of the protein.