Formation of Stable Supramolecular Structure with β-Lactoglobulin-Derived Self-Assembling Peptide f1-8 and Bovine Micellar Caseins.

The development of stable macromolecular structures with tailored functional properties in the dairy industry using innovative stabilizers is of great interest. The self-assembling peptide 11-8 (Pfl-8) derived from beta-lactoglobulin was found to interact with whey proteins, consequently changing their physicochemical properties. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the interaction between Pfl-8 and micellar casein (CN) and the changes in their physicochemical properties and stability at different pH values (6.6-2.6) on model solutions containing CN and Pfl-8 at various ratios (1:1, 5:1, and 10:1) using spectrofluorimetry, TEM, SEC-HPLC, and SDS-PAGE analyses. No CN precipitation occurred for the solution at the 1:1 ratio even at pH values below 4.6. In all samples, CN was completely dissociated to primary casein particles (PCP) to form stable supramolecular structures strongly bound to peptide gels via hydrophobic interactions. Thus, a novel milk-protein-derived peptide responsible for stabilizing complex structures composed of CN was discovered.