Electronic properties of the casein-methylglyoxal complex.

Measurements of the electron spin resonance, direct current conductivity, microwave permittivity, and electronic transference number are reported for the brown casein-methylglyoxal complex. Compared with normal white casein, the colored casein complex exhibits an increased electronic activity. This is considered to arise from the electron-accepting action of the methylglyoxal in separating electronic charge from an otherwise completely occupied electronic ground state of the casein macromolecule.