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Updated: May 2, 2026

Removal and Replacement of Endogenous Ligands from Lipid-Bound Proteins and Allergens
Published on: February 24, 2021
Differences in heat stability and ligand binding among β-lactoglobulin genetic variants A, B and C using (1)H NMR and
Julia K Keppler1, Frank D Sönnichsen2, Peter-Christian Lorenzen3
1Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Department of Food Technology, Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Heinrich-Hecht Platz 10, D-24118 Kiel, Germany.
Abstract:
The structure of β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) is well characterized, but the exact location of binding sites for retinol and (-)-epigallocatechingallate (EGCG) is still a subject of controversy. Here we report that the genetic β-LG variants A, B and C have different numbers of binding sites for retinol (almost completely incorporated into the calyx), as well as for EGCG (exclusively bound on the surface), and β-LG A with the most binding sites for EGCG, which include Tyr(20), Phe(151) and His(59). Upon heat related unfolding, new unspecific binding sites emerge, which are comparable in number and affinity for retinol and for EGCG, and in the three genetic variants A, B and C. The findings of our study provide new insights into the use of β-LG as nanotransporter.
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