HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ebner, K. E. Articles by Brodbeck, U. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ebner, K. E. Articles by Brodbeck, U.

Biological Role of -Lactalbumin: A Review

Department of Biochemistry, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater

ABSTRACT

The biological role of -lactalbumin has been elucidated recently. It is one of two proteins required for the lactose synthetase enzyme, the enzyme responsible for the biosynthesis of lactose. This enzyme requires an A protein, a B protein (-lactalbumin), substrates and metal for activity. -Lactalbumin, by itself, does not have any catalytic activity and, hence, the elucidation of its function came about in an indirect manner.

-Lactalbumins isolated from various sources have about the same activity when assayed with bovine A protein in the lactose synthetase assay. However, -lactalbumin from nonruminant sources will not react with antisera to bovine -lactalbumin. Such studies indicate that the immunological binding sites and enzymic catalytic sites are distinct.

Recent work also has indicated a high degree of homology in the amino acid sequence between bovine -lactalbumin and hen's egg-white lysozyme, suggesting that both proteins arose from a common ancestral gene.