Interaction of Metal Ions with Milk Protein (Casein)

குறிக்கோள்கள்:

  •  Separation of Milk protein from cow’s milk by isoelectric point method.
  • Analysis of elements and amino acids in casein (milk protein).
  • Preparation of casein column.
  • Calculation of amount of metal ions absorbed by casein.
  • Characterization of metal co-ordinated casein by spectroscopic methods.

Milk protein contains about seventeen amino acids in the form of phosphoprotein namely casein chemically, these amino acids also act as best ligands for making metallo biomolecules. In milk, casein is present as a calcium caseinate. Even then so many co-ordinating sites of amino acids of casein are free.  The sites of casein are use for preparing metallo casein with biologically important metals such as copper and zinc. Thus the metallo caseins have been prepared by column method. The quantity of the metal ion absorption by casein has been calculated. The spectral identification, nitrogen estimation and various physical measurements have also been undertaken.

Even in the solid state, casein found to co-ordinate with metal ions like Cu (II) and Zn (II) to a considerable extent. The extent of co-ordination is more with Cu (II) than with Zn (II).  Analysis of the individual aminoacid with different metal ions with the same composition as that of casein may through further light on the co-ordination sites and structure fo the complex formed.