Binding of vitamin A with milk α- and β-caseins

The binding sites of retinol and retinoic acid with milk α- and β-caseins were determined, using constant protein concentration and various retinoid contents. FTIR, UV–visible and fluorescence spectroscopic methods as well as molecular modelling were used to analyse retinol and retinoic acid binding sites, the binding constant and the effect of retinoid complexation on the stability and conformation of caseins. Structural analysis showed that retinoids bind caseins via both hydrophilic and hydrophobic contacts with overall binding constants of Kretinol-α-caseins = 1.21 (±0.4) × 105 M−1 and Kretinol-β-caseins = 1.11 (±0.5) × 105 M−1 and Kretinoic acid-α-caseins = 6.2 (±0.6) × 104 M−1 and Kretinoic acid-β-caseins = 6.3 (±0.6) × 104 M−1. The number of bound retinol molecules per protein (n) was 1.5 (±0.1) for α-casein and 1.0 (±0.1) for β-casein, while 1 molecule of retinoic acid was bound in the α- and β-casein complexes. Molecular modelling showed different binding sites for retinol and retinoic acid on α- and β-caseins with more stable complexes formed with α-casein. Retinoid–casein complexation induced minor alterations of protein conformation. Caseins might act as carriers for transportation of retinoids to target molecules.