Comparative analysis of refolding of chemically denatured β-lactoglobulin types A and B using the dilution additive mode

The kinetic refolding of β-lactoglobulin (BLG), types A and B, by β-cyclodextrin, glucose and sorbitol has been investigated in aqueous solution using fluorescence, far UV-CD and UV-spectrophotometric techniques. A new Pd-complex has been used to denature the protein. CD and fluorescence studies indicated that when incubated with sugar, the denatured BLG is refolded into the native-like structure through the dilution additive mode resulting in a higher yield of active protein than without sugar. CD studies show that these sugars can induce a non-native α-helical structure in denatured BLG-A and -B, then aid in the refolding of the protein. Based on the present study, these sugars have a different effect on BLG-A than BLG-B because of their differences in protein thermal stability. BLG-A has a higher thermal stability than BLG-B due to differences in the amino acid sequences.