INTERACTIONS IN MICELLAR SOLUTIONS OF BETA-CASEIN

beta-casein is a protein which forms micelles in aqueous solvents. The magnitude and the range of the weight-average interactions between th e diverse solute particles are inferred from small-angle neutron scatt ering measurements made on various beta-casein solutions. Well above t he critical micelle concentration (CMC), these interactions are repuls ive. They weaken with decreasing protein concentration, and finally be come strongly attractive near the CMC. Although indispensable for mice lle formation this fact has never been reported so far.