Effect of the anion citrate on the mineral composition of artificial casein micelles

The composition of artificial casein micelles (ACM) prepared at constant concentration of caseins, calcium (Ca), and phosphate (P(i)) in media with different citrate (Cit) concentrations was studied. The incorporation of the different mineral and protein components to the ACM was conditioned by the Cit concentration. In our working condition, the ACM size remained almost constant for Cit concentration ranging from 7 to 10 mM. This behavior could be indicating that the action of Cit essentially consists of a regulation of the Ca activity. The molar ratio at which Ca and P(i) were incorporated to the ACM varied for different Cit concentrations. At decreasing pH, the Ca/P(i) molar ratios for the remanent ions in the ACM were dependent on the Cit concentration. These observations could be related to a certain kind of competition between Cit, micellar calcium phosphate (MCP), and other groups able to bind Ca in the ACM.