Interactions between aroma compounds and beta-lactoglobulin in the heat-induced molten globule state

 ; he present study aims to elucidate the binding of small hydrophobic ligands onto the molten globule state of β-lactoglobulin (BLG). The conversion of the native BLG into a molten globule state was induced by heat treatment at acidic pH. The molten globule state was evidenced by far and near-UV circular dichroism spectra. β-Ionone and guaiacol exhibited a higher binding ability to BLG in the heat-induced molten globule state compared to unheated BLG, as assessed by protein surface hydrophobicity measurements, using 6-propionyl-2-(dimethylamino)naphthalene (PRODAN) fluorescent probe. The binding sites of the two aroma compounds were determined by 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectro…