Chemical phosphorylation of bovine caseins may be useful for changing their ihysiiochkmical properties. Depending on the pH of phoiohorvlation of caseins bv ohosuhorus oxvchloride (POClA covalent bon& between phosphaie 'groul~ and diiferent spe'cific &ino acids were formed. After casein phosphorylation, intermolecular associations may occur, as shown by electrophoresis. The solubility of modified casein was increased near the isoelectric point (pHi) and decreased at alkaline and acidic pH. In the presence of Ca++ at alkaline pH, the solubility of phosphorylated casein was lower than that of the control. Rheological parameters appeared to be efficient indices of structural changes occurring in proteins as a result of chemical modifications. Electron spin resonance studies showed that the flexibility of phosphorylated casein was higher than that of the control. phosphorylated casein was measured as a function of the level of phosphorylation and of the pH and ionic strength of the medium. The influence of the level of phosphorylation, pH and casein concentration on chain flexibility was evaluated by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry. Viscosity measurements were also performed, in order to determine the flow behavior of casein solutions and their intrinsic viscosity.
MATERIALS & METHODSCasein preparation Native bovine casein was obtained from skim milk by precipitation at the isoelectric point (pH 4.6) using 1M hydrochloric acid solution. The precipitate was washed, solubilized at pH 7 with sodium hydroxide, precipitated again and washed three more times. Finally, the casein was solubilized again at pH 7, freeze-dried and stored at 4°C in hermetically sealed bags.