알파-락트알부민(${alpha}-La$)의 열처리에 의한 겔 특성을 조사하기 위하여 ${alpha}-La$ 농도, 염의 종류와 농도, 티올시약(NEM, DTT)의 농도를 달리해 $90^{circ}C$에서 40분간 가열하여 만든 ${alpha}-La$의 겔형성 시간과 용해성을 측정하였다. 겔형성 시간은 ${alpha}-La$, NaCl, $CaCl_2$, DTT의 농도가 증가할수록 감소하였으나 NEM의 경우는 그와 반대로 나타났고 ${alpha}-La$ 용액의 겔형성은 NEM $20{sim}50;mM$ 경우를 제외하고는 전부 40분 내에 이루어졌다. 용해성은 ${alpha}-La$, NaCl, $CaCl_2$, DTT의 농도가 증가함에 따라 감소하였으나 NEM의 경우는 NEM의 농도증가에 따라 용해성은 증가하는 양상을 나타내었다. 표준완충용액에 용해된 겔의 용해성은 각각 $10.4{sim}51.3%$, $9.2{sim}35.4%$, $11.1{sim}35.0%$, $8.0{sim}9.5%$, 그리고 $96.8{sim}56.2%$였고, 8M urea와 0.5% SDS를 함유한 표준완충용액에서는 더 높은 값인 $41.8{sim}81.3%$, $41.9{sim}64.1%$, $43.5{sim}69.8%$, $29.6{sim}38.5%$, 그리고 $77.4{sim}98.9%$로 각각 나타났다. DTT를 함유한 것은 모든 조건에서 거의 100%에 달하는 용해성을 나타내었다. 이상으로 ${alpha}-La$의 겔형성 속도와 용해성은 여러인자 즉, 단백질 농도, 염의 종류와 농도, 티올시약의 농도 등에 의해 영향을 받고, 겔형성 속도가 증가될수록 겔의 용해성은 감소함을 알수 있었다.
In order to investigate gelation properties of Gelation Properties of ${alpha}-lactalbumin$(${alpha}-La$), gelling times and protein solubilities of ${alpha}-La$ gels prepared in 0.1 M Tris-HCI buffer(pH 8.0) followed by heating at $90^{circ}C$ for 40 minutes under different ${alpha}-La$ concentration, NaCl, $CaCl_2$, N-ethylmaleimide(NEM), and dithiothreitol(DTT) concentration were measured. Gelling times decreased with increasing concentration of ${alpha}-La$, NaCl, $CaCl_2$, and DTT, but increased with increasing concentration of NEM. ${alpha}-La$ solutions made from all treatments were gelled within 40 minutes with the exception of NEM at $20{sim}50;mM$. Solubilities decreased with increasing concentration of ${alpha}-La$, NaCl, $CaCl_2$, and DTT, but the solubility of NEM-modified gels increased with increasing concentration of NEM. As the results, solubilities In standard buffer were $10.4{sim}51.3%$, $9.2{sim}35.4%$, $11.1{sim}35.0%$, $8.0{sim}9.5%$, and $96.8{sim}56.2%$, respectively. Solubilities in standard buffer containing 8 M urea and 0.5% SDS were higher than those in standard buffer, and were $41.8{sim}81.3%$, $41.9{sim}64.1%$, $43.5{sim}69.8%$, $29.6{sim}38.5%$, and $77.4{sim}98.9%$, respectively. Solubilities in the presence of DTT were almost close to 100% in all conditions. These results indicates that the gelation rate and solubility are influenced by many factors, i.e. protein concentration, kind and concentration of salts, concentration of thiol reagents. The solubility of gel decreased with increasing the gelation rate.
