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Phosphorylation of casein kinase II.

Casein kinase II from rabbit reticulocytes is a tetramer with an alpha,alpha' beta 2 or alpha 2 beta 2 structure; the alpha subunits contain the catalytic activity, and the beta subunits are regulatory in nature [Traugh, J.A., Lin, W. J., Takada-Axelrod, F., & Tuazon, P. T. (1990) Adv. Second Messenger Phosphoprotein Res. 24, 224-229]. When casein kinase II is isolated from rabbit reticulocytes by a rapid two-step purification of the enzyme, both the alpha and beta subunits are phosphorylated to a significant extent. In vitro, purified casein kinase II undergoes autophosphorylation on the beta subunit. In the presence of polylysine and polyarginine, phosphorylation of the beta subunits is inhibited, and the alpha subunits (alpha and alpha') become autophosphorylated. The effectiveness of polylysine coincides with the molecular weight. With basic proteins, including a number of histones and protamine, autophosphorylation of both subunits is observed. With histones, autophosphorylation of each subunit can be greater than that observed with the autophosphorylated enzyme alone or with a basic polypeptide. Thus, the potential exists for modulatory proteins to alter the autophosphorylation state of casein kinase II. Taken together, the data suggest that phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of casein kinase II in vivo may be due to an unidentified protein kinase or due to autophosphorylation. In the latter instance, casein kinase II could be transiently associated with specific intracellular compounds, such as basic proteins, with a resultant stimulation of autophosphorylation.

Animals↗

Neoglycoproteins: in vitro introduction of glycosyl units at glutamines in beta-casein using transglutaminase.

Exploring different methods for preparing neoglycoproteins with a specific number of oligosaccharides in specific positions, we have used guinea pig liver transglutaminase to incorporate glycosyl units into glutamine residues in beta-casein. In order to prevent epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl)lysine cross-link formation, the lysine residues of beta-casein were first blocked either by amidination with ethyl acetimidate or by acylation with succinic anhydride. The glycosyl donor substrates prepared for this work were maltotriose reductively aminated with cadaverine, N-(Glc-Glc-glucitol-1)-cadaverine, and an asparaginyl nonasaccharide from ovalbumin modified with a 6-aminohexanoyl group at the alpha-amino group. The transglutaminase-catalyzed incorporation of these two donors into the beta-casein derivatives was monitored in comparison to the incorporation of the commonly used transglutaminase substrate dansylcadaverine under conditions of optimal incorporation (multiple additions of enzyme, large excess of donor, and long incubation time). For both dansylcadaverine and Glc-Glc-Glc(OH)-cadaverine, 5 and 8 mol of donor were incorporated per mol of amidinated and succinylated beta-casein, respectively. Competition experiments showed that the two donor substrates are incorporated into the same glutamine sites. Partial sequencing of the glycosylated beta-casein permitted the identification of glutamine residues 56, 79, 167, 175, and 194 as the primary sites of incorporation in amidinated casein with residues 54 and 182 as possible sites for partial glycosylation. The results are consistent with a specific glycosylation of only selected glutamines in this transglutaminase-catalyzed process.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acyltransferases↗

Isolation and characterization of human cDNA clones encoding the alpha and the alpha' subunits of casein kinase II.

Casein kinase II is a widely distributed protein serine/threonine kinase. The holoenzyme appears to be a tetramer, containing two alpha or alpha' subunits (or one of each) and two beta subunits. Complementary DNA clones encoding the subunits of casein kinase II were isolated from a human T-cell lambda gt10 library using cDNA clones isolated from Drosophila melanogaster [Saxena et al. (1987) Mol. Cell. Biol. 7, 3409-3417]. One of the human cDNA clones (hT4.1) was 2.2 kb long, including a coding region of 1176 bp preceded by 156 bp (5' untranslated region) and followed by 871 bp (3' untranslated region). The hT4.1 clone was nearly identical in size and sequence with a cDNA clone from HepG2 human hepatoma cultured cells [Meisner et al. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 4072-4076]. Another of the human T-cell cDNA clones (hT9.1) was 1.8 kb long, containing a coding region of 1053 bp preceded by 171 bp (5' untranslated region) and followed by 550 bp (3' untranslated region). Amino acid sequences deduced from these two cDNA clones were about 85% identical. Most of the difference between the two encoded polypeptides was in the carboxy-terminal region, but heterogeneity was distributed throughout the molecules. Partial amino acid sequence was determined in a mixture of alpha and alpha' subunits from bovine lung casein kinase II. The bovine sequences aligned with the 2 human cDNA-encoded polypeptides with only 2 discrepancies out of 535 amino acid positions. This confirmed that the two human T-cell cDNA clones encoded the alpha and alpha' subunits of casein kinase II. Microsequence data determined from separated preparations of bovine casein kinase II alpha subunit and alpha' subunit [Litchfield et al. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 7638-7644] confirmed that hT4.1 encoded the alpha subunit and hT9.1 encoded the alpha' subunit. These studies show that there are two distinct catalytic subunits for casein kinase II (alpha and alpha') and that the sequence of these subunits is largely conserved between the bovine and the human.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

beta-Casein adsorption at the silicon oxide--aqueous solution interface.

Neutron reflectometry was used to investigate the time-dependent beta-casein adsorption at the silica-aqueous solution interface. The transient and steady-state structural characteristics of the adsorbed layer were determined from reflectivity curves, fitted to three-layer and two-layer models. The results show that the beta-casein adsorption to silica is very slow. The adsorption process involves the formation of an inner dense protein layer with a mean thickness of about 30 A onto which a more hydrated outer layer is self-associated. The surface excess and the total layer thickness of the asymmetric bilayer were, after 5 h adsorption time, estimated to be about 6.5 mg/m2 and 105 A, respectively. The adsorption behavior observed on silica contrasts with that previously reported for hydrophobic substrates, where beta-casein adsorption is much more rapid and the final surface excess is less than half of that observed for silica. Rinsing the silica surface with protein-free buffer resulted in a substantial desorption; much more pronounced than observed for hydrophobic substrates. This behavior suggests a weak adsorption affinity for a fraction of the adsorbed casein molecules; most likely the outer self-associated casein molecules in the adsorbed bilayer. The comparative desorption from hydrophobic surfaces was shown to be marginal. The difference between the layer structures adopted on hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces is also mirrored in the effects that the addition of a specific proteolytic enzyme (endoproteinase Asp-N) has on the adsorbed layer properties. The rinsing and endoproteinase cleavage processes result together in more than 80% reduction of the originally adsorbed mass at the silica surface. Only a thin but dense adsorbed layer remains after these treatments. The corresponding reduction reported for the hydrophobic adsorbent system was only about 20%. It is concluded that beta-casein adsorption on silica results in the formation of an asymmetric surface bound bilayer that stands in strong contrast to the monolayer structure formed at hydrophobic surfaces. This finding support the previous results obtained by using ellipsometry. The study also shows that neutron reflection, despite its limitations in time resolution, can be used for studying dynamic interfacial phenomena in protein systems.

Adsorption↗

The Effect of monoglycerides on structural and topographical characteristics of adsorbed beta-casein films at the air-water interface.

The effect of monoglycerides (monopalmitin and monoolein) on the structural and topographical characteristics of beta-casein adsorbed film at the air-water interface has been analyzed by means of surface pressure (pi)-area (A) isotherms and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). At surface pressures lower than that for the beta-casein collapse (pi(c)(beta-casein)), attractive interactions between beta-casein and monoglycerides were observed. At higher surface pressures, the collapsed beta-casein is partially displaced from the interface by monoglycerides. However, beta-casein displacement by monoglycerides is not quantitative at the monoglyceride concentrations studied in this work. From the results derived from these experiments, we have concluded that interactions, miscibility, and displacement of proteins by monoglycerides in adsorbed mixed monolayers at the air-water interface depend on the particular protein-monoglyceride system, the interactions between film-forming components being higher for adsorbed than for spread films. The adsorbed films are more segregated than spread films, and both collapsed protein domains and monoglyceride domains in adsorbed films are smaller than for spread films.

Adsorption↗

Heat-induced covalent complex between casein micelles and beta-lactoglobulin from goat's milk: identification of an involved disulfide bond.

Goat milk is characterized by a very low heat stability that could be attributed, in part, to the covalent interaction between whey proteins and casein micelles. However, the formation of such a complex in goat milk has never been evidenced. This study was designed to assess whether heat-induced covalent interaction occurs between purified casein micelles and beta-lactoglobulin. We used a multiple approach of ultracentrifugation of heated mixture, chromatographic fractionation of resuspended pellets, sequential enzyme digestion of disulfide-linked oligomers, and identification of disulfide-linked peptides by on-line liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/MS), and tandem MS. We identified three different types of disulfide links: (1) expected intermolecular bridges between beta-Lg molecules; (2) disulfide bond involving two kappa-casein molecules; and (3) a disulfide bond between two peptides, one from beta-Lg and the other from kappa-casein. The involved sites in this last bond were Cys(160) of beta-Lg and Cys(88) of kappa-casein. Although the identified heterolinkage is possibly only one of several different types, the results of this study constitute the first direct evidence of the formation of a covalent complex between casein micelles and beta-lactoglobulin derived from goat milk.

Animals↗

Quantification of melanoidin concentration in sugar-casein systems.

Melanoidins are the final, brown, high molecular weight products of the Maillard reaction. The aim of the present study was to determine the average molar extinction coefficients of melanoidins formed in heated glucose-casein and fructose-casein systems. The value of the extinction coefficient can be used to translate spectrophotometrically measured browning (absorbance values) into melanoidin concentration. In the present study the melanoidins were quantified by measuring the concentration of sugar incorporated into the melanoidins, using (14)C-labeled sugar. The extinction coefficient of the melanoidins remained constant during the observation period as the absorbance at 420 nm increased to approximately 8 units, and it was calculated to be 477 (+/- 50) L mol(-1) cm(-1) in the glucose-casein reaction and 527 (+/- 35) L mol(-1) cm(-1) in the fructose-casein reaction. This difference is not significant. An increase of the number of sugar molecules per reactive amino group during the heating of glucose-casein and the fructose-casein mixtures was observed by the radiochemical method as well as by microanalysis of the high molecular weight fraction.

Caseins↗

1H NMR diffusometry study of water in casein dispersions and gels.

The self-diffusion coefficients of water in casein solutions and gels were measured using a pulsed-gradient spin-echo nuclear magnetic resonance technique (PGSE NMR). The dependence of the self-diffusion coefficient of water on the concentration and structure of casein is reported. The results were analyzed using a cell model. It was found that the water self-diffusion coefficient is insensitive to the structure of the casein in solution or in a gelled state. The influence of casein concentration on the water self-diffusion coefficient could be explained by obstruction from the casein molecule. Assuming a simple model with two water regions, each characterized by a specific water concentration and value of the water diffusion coefficient, the water mobility reduction induced by the casein can be rationalized.

Caseins↗

Some rheological properties of sodium caseinate-starch gels.

The influence of sodium caseinate on the thermal and rheological properties of starch gels at different concentrations and from different botanical sources was evaluated. In sodium caseinate-starch gels, for all starches with the exception of potato starch, the sodium caseinate promoted an increase in the storage modulus and in the viscosity of the composite gel when compared with starch gels. The addition of sodium caseinate resulted in an increase in the onset temperature, the gelatinization temperature, and the end temperature, and there was a significant interaction between starch and sodium caseinate for the onset temperature, the peak temperature, and the end temperature. Microscopy results suggested that sodium caseinate promoted an increase in the homogeneity in the matrix of cereal starch gels.

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning↗

Antioxidant properties of casein calcium peptides and their effects on lipid oxidation in beef homogenates.

The antioxidant activity of casein calcium peptides in several in vitro assay systems was investigated. Casein calcium peptides were prepared by the microbial enzymic hydrolysis of casein calcium. The main peak of the molecular mass distribution of the peptides was about 3 kDa. Casein calcium peptides showed strong antioxidant activity with the beta-carotene bleaching method, and they also showed scavenging activity against radicals such as superoxide radicals, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals, and hydroxyl radicals. Antioxidant activity was increased with an increasing peptide concentration. Casein calcium peptides also showed strong antioxidant activity against lipid oxidation in ground beef homogenates. These results suggest that casein calcium peptides are a suitable natural antioxidant that prevents the lipid oxidation of meat and related food ingredients.

Animals↗

Estimation of whey protein in casein coprecipitate and milk powder by high-performance liquid chromatography quantification of cysteine.

An analytical high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-fluorescence method for indirect measuring of whey protein in casein coprecipitate and milk powder was developed. Samples were hydrolyzed with HCl, and cysteyl residues were derivatized with 3,3'-dithiodipropionic acid and 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate. The cysteine content was used to calculate the percentage of whey protein in commercial samples with use of European Union Regulation cysteine reference values in both casein and whey protein. Method validation studies were performed for caseinates and milk powder, and results indicate that the present HPLC approach can be applied as a fast method with a standard deviation of repeatability between 3.3 and 9.5%. Applicability was studied by analysis of 40 commercial caseinate samples, and all complied to European legislation with a content of whey protein not exceeding 5%. Finally, an approach used to estimate the cysteine amount in pure casein by comparison of calculated and experimental values questions the generally accepted cysteine reference value in casein, which is most likely an overestimation.

Amino Acids↗

Partial replacement of dietary casein with soy protein isolate can reduce the severity of retinoid-induced hypertriglyceridemia.

Previous research carried out in an animal model of retinoid-induced hypertriglyceridemia - rats fet a 13-cis retinoic acid (13cRA)-containing diet having casein as the protein source - has demonstrated that the complete replacement of dietary casein with soy protein isolate (SPI) can decrease the severity of this condition. In this study, the effect of partially replacing dietary casein with SPI was investigated. Five groups of male Fischer 344 rats were used in a 14-day study, with two groups being fed diets having casein as the protein source, without or with 13cRA (groups A and B, respectively), and three groups being fed 13cRA-containing diets in which SPI was used to bring about the isonitrogenous replacement of 25, 50, or 100% of the casein in the formula for the diet used for group B (groups C-E, respectively). Serum triglyceride concentration for group B was significantly different (p < 0.05) from that of groups A, D, and E (5.41 vs 2.62, 4.04, and 2.66 mmol/l, respectively). Serum cholesterol concentrations for groups D and E were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than for groups A and B (1.63 and 1.60 vs 2.00 and 2.14 mmol/l, respectively). Thus, the isonitrogenous replacement of 50% of dietary casein with SPI can reduce the severity of retinoid-induced hypertriglyceridemia while decreasing the serum concentration of cholesterol.

Animals↗

Binding of drugs in milk: the role of casein in milk protein binding.

Unbound fractions of 14C-labeled diazepam and tenoxicam in skimmed milk of various species (man, horse, goat, cow, sheep, dog, rabbit) with different milk compositions were determined. Furthermore, the protein binding of five 14C-labeled benzodiazepines differing in their lipophilicity (bromazepam, clonazepam, diazepam, flumazenil, and flunitrazepam) were measured in human milk and in artificially prepared solutions of individual milk proteins (lactoferrin, 2.4 g/liter; alpha-lactalbumin, 2.1 g/liter; albumin, 0.4 g/liter; and casein--2.1, 3.4, and 13.3 g/liter). The extent of binding was determined by equilibrium dialysis of protein solution against 1/15 M phosphate buffer, made isocryoscopic with lactose. The results showed that the casein fraction is a major binding component in milk for all tested drugs. The extent of binding of diazepam and tenoxicam in the milk of various species was independent of the whey protein concentration. In human milk the fraction of bromazepam, clonazepam, diazepam, and flunitrazepam bound to casein was higher than that bound to any other of the milk proteins tested. Albumin contributed little to the overall binding of these benzodiazepines, and lactoferrin and alpha-lactalbumin did not account for significant binding. The benzodiazepine antagonist flumazenil showed the lowest overall binding in milk and in casein solution. As the casein concentration is highest in colostral milk and drops during the course of lactation, it is expected that M/P ratios of drugs strongly bound to casein are higher during the first days postpartum than in later phases of lactation.

Albumins↗

Characterization of the particles of purified kappa-casein: trypsin as a probe of surface-accessible residues.

kappa-Casein as purified from bovine milk exhibits a rather unique disulfide bonding pattern as revealed by SDS-PAGE. The disulfide-bonded caseins present range from dimer to octamer and above and preparations contain about 10% monomer. All of these heterogeneous polymers, however, self-associate into nearly spherical particles with an average diameter of 13 nm at pH 8.0, as revealed by negatively stained transmission electron micrographs and dynamic light scattering. The weight-average molecular weight of the aggregates at pH 8.0, as judged by analytical ultracentrifugation, is 648,000. Trypsin digestion at pH 8.0 was used to probe the surface groups of the kappa-casein A polymers. The reaction with trypsin was rapid and the peptides liberated were identified by separation with reverse-phase HPLC, amino acid analysis, and protein sequencing. The most rapidly released peptides (t1/2 < 30 sec) were from cleavage at Arg 97 and Lys residues 111 and 112. These results suggest a surface orientation for these residues, and the data are in accord with earlier proposed 3D predictive models for kappa-casein. It is speculated that Arg 97, together with adjacent His residues (98 and 100) and Lys residues 111 and 112, form two positively charged clusters on the surface of the otherwise negatively charged casein. These clusters bracket the neutral chymosin cleavage site (whose hydrolysis triggers a well-known digestive process) and so these clusters may facilitate docking of the substrate caseins with chymosin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Up-regulation of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase in rat casein-induced polymorphonuclear neutrophils.

Antioxidant enzymes play key roles in the protection of cells from oxidative damage. Little is known, however, about the expression of antioxidants and/or their roles in PMNs (polymorphonuclear leucocytes), which are thought to suffer from oxidative stress in an inflammation site. In the present paper, we report on the regulation of expression of PHGPx (phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase) and cGPx (cytosolic glutathione peroxidase) in rat PMNs in the inflammation site. PHGPx mRNA levels were much lower in casein-induced peritoneal and carrageenan-induced pleural PMNs just after their collection than in peripheral PMNs. cGPx mRNA was also reduced in the casein-induced PMNs, but not in carrageenan-induced PMNs. Both enzymes with decreased levels in the casein-induced PMNs were up-regulated during further 24 h cultivation in vitro and in vivo, with elevation of their protein levels and activities, and reduction of intracellular peroxides. Up-regulation of PHGPx mRNA was attenuated by cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, and this effect was cancelled by culturing the cells in the conditioned medium of the cultured casein-induced PMNs. This latter effect was attenuated by pre-treatment with anti-GRO (growth-regulated oncogene) antibody. Recombinant rat GRO could also induce the up-regulation in the presence of cycloheximide, demonstrating that GRO may play an important role in the PHGPx up-regulation of casein-induced PMNs. Production of the lipid mediators leukotriene B4 and 5-HETE (5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid) was decreased in the cultured casein-induced PMNs exhibiting PHGPx up-regulation. The evidence obtained indicates that PHGPx activity in the activated PMNs would be related to the appearance of the intrinsic function of PMNs in the inflammatory site.

Animals↗

Involvement of the ubiquitous Oct-1 transcription factor in hormonal induction of beta-casein gene expression.

Transcription of the milk protein beta-casein gene is induced by the lactogenic hormones Prl (prolactin) and glucocorticoids. Multiple transcription factors involved in this induction have been identified, including the STAT5 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 5) and the GR (glucocorticoid receptor). Our previous studies have identified a binding site for the ubiquitous Oct-1 (octamer-binding transcription factor 1) protein in the lactogenic hormonal regulatory region of the mouse beta-casein promoter. In the present study, we report that Oct-1 is indeed expressed and binds to the beta-casein promoter in mammary epithelial cells. Oct-1 activates hormonally induced beta-casein promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner. Hormonal induction of promoter activity was decreased not only by mutating the Oct-1-binding site from ATTAGCAT to GCTAGCAT, which abolishes Oct-1 binding (50% decrease, P<0.01), but also by changing the site to the consensus Oct-1-binding motif ATTTGCAT (40% decrease, P<0.01). Reversing the Oct-1-binding site reduced hormonal induction by 70% (P<0.01), showing that orientation of Oct-1 binding is also critical in hormonal action. In transient transfection experiments, Oct-1 collaboratively transactivated the beta-casein gene promoter with STAT5 and/or GR in the presence of Prl receptor in cells treated with the lactogenic hormones. The C-terminus of Oct-1 was not essential to its function. The results of the present study provide biochemical evidence that the ubiquitous Oct-1 transcription factor may be involved in hormonally regulated, tissue-specific beta-casein gene expression.

Animals↗

Bile acid binding to dietary casein: a study in vitro and in vivo.

1. Studies were carried out in vitro using an ultracentrifugation method to quantify bile acid binding to the different components of a Lundh test meal, and to determine what factors influence bile acid binding to one of the components (casein). We validated the ultracentrifugation method by showing good agreement with the equilibrium dialysis method. Studies were carried out in vivo on jejunal aspirate from 10 ileal resection patients in order to determine whether bile acid binding to casein could be demonstrated, and whether this influenced aqueous-phase bile acid and fatty acid concentrations. 2. In vitro, the Lundh test meal was found to adsorb bile acid. The protein content of the meal (casein) alone accounted for this binding, which was abolished by use of casein hydrolysate. The binding to casein was a saturable process. Both binding affinity and binding capacity were significantly greater for taurocholate at pH 4.5 than at pH 6.5, and for dihydroxylated than for trihydroxylated bile acid, suggesting that hydrophobic bonding was involved. 3. In vivo, jejunal samples aspirated at pH greater than 6 from 10 ileal resection patients showed 25% binding of bile acid to protein. On substitution of amino acids for casein, mean binding was reduced to 16% (P less than 0.05), residual binding being attributed to endogenous protein. This was associated with an increase in fatty acid solubilization from 28% to 60% (P less than 0.025).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

An allele associated with a non-detectable amount of alpha s2 casein in goat milk.

The goat CSN1S2 locus is characterized by the presence of three alleles, A, B and C, all associated with about 2.5 g/l of protein per allele. The SDS-PAGE analysis of 441 individual milk samples obtained from goats belonging to a population reared in Southern Italy showed that the milk produced by three goats did not apparently contain alpha s2-casein, whereas milk produced by 37 goats showed a less intense electrophoretic band of this casein fraction (about 50%). These results can be explained by hypothesizing the presence of another allele at this locus, CSN1S2o, associated with a 'null' content of alpha s2-casein. Southern blot, PCR and PCR-RFLP analyses of the DNA region containing the CSN1S2 gene of individuals producing milk with and without alpha s2-casein did not show differences between the two groups. As a consequence, goats producing milk without alpha s2-casein carry an apparently intact gene. The first results obtained by sequencing part of the CSN1S2o allele revealed a G-->A transition at nucleotide 80 of the 11th exon which creates a stop codon and could be responsible for the absence of the alpha s2-casein in goat milk. This mutation eliminates a NcoI restriction site. A test based on this polymorphism has been established in order to identify carriers of the CSN1S2o allele.

Alleles↗