STUDY OF THE POLYMORPHISM OF OVINE ALPHA(S1)-CASEINS AND ALPHA(S2)-CASEINS BY CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS

Polymorphism of ovine alpha(s)-caseins was studied by capillary electr ophoresis at PH 3.0 +/- 0.1. Individual caseins (CN) were selected acc ording to their genetic variants, as determined by PAGE and isoelectri c focusing. The ovine caseins, containing different genetic variants o f alpha(s1)-CN and alpha(s2)-CN, were fractionated by cation-exchange FPLC(R). The alpha(s1)-CN variants A, B and C, and the fast moving alp ha(s2)-CN variant were identified by a capillary electrophoresis metho d. The fast moving alpha(s2)-CN variant, so-called for its behaviour i n PAGE, also had a faster electrophoretic mobility than the common alp ha(s2)-CN when analysed by the present technique. The capillary electr ophoresis method gave excellent, rapid, automated separation of alpha( s1)-CN and alpha(s2)-CN variants and was suitable for screening studie s.