Analysis by fast protein liquid chromatography of variants of κ-casein and their relevance to micellar structure and renneting

Fast protein liquid chromatography was used to study the kappa-casein fraction of casein micelles from bulk milk and from milk from individual animals homozygous for kappa-caseins A and B. The extent of glycosylation of the kappa-casein appeared to have no effect on its distribution in casein micelles of different sizes, nor did it affect the rate at which kappa-casein was destroyed during renneting. The rate of breakdown of kappa-casein during renneting was also almost independent of micellar size. The results may indicate a difference between methods which analyse for intact kappa-casein or for the product macropeptide during renneting.