Marine phlorotannins (PhT) from Laminaria digitata might protect feed proteins from
ruminal digestion by formation
of insoluble non-covalent tannin–protein complexes at rumen
pH (6–7). Formation and disintegration of PhT–protein
complexes was studied with β-casein (random coil) and bovine
serum albumin (BSA, globular) at various pH. PhT had similar binding
affinity for β-casein and BSA as pentagalloyl glucose, as studied
by fluorescence quenching. The affinity of PhT for both proteins was
independent of pH (3.0, 6.0, and 8.0). In the presence of PhT, the
pH range for precipitation of tannin–protein complexes widened
to 0.5–1.5 pH units around the isoelectric point (pI) of the
protein. Complete protein resolubilization from insoluble PhT–protein
complexes was achieved at pH 7 and 2 for β-casein and BSA, respectively.
It was demonstrated that PhT modulate the solubility of proteins at
neutral pH and that resolubilization of PhT–protein complexes
at pH deviating from pI is mainly governed by the charge state of
the protein.