BINDING OF CHOLESTEROL WITH LACTIC-ACID BACTERIAL-CELLS

Lactic acid bacteria from various fermented milk products were tested for their abilities to bind cholesterol. Of the strains examined the h ighest binding was observed in Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar . diacetylactis R-43. Highest binding by this strain was observed imme diately after the cells of this strain were incubated with cholestrol. No significant effect of incubation temperatures on the binding of ch olesterol to the cell preparation was observed with incubation tempera ture between 10 and 70 degrees C. Cations such as Mg2+ and Ca2+ demons trated a high inhibitory effect on the binding of cholesterol to R-43 strain cells.