The complex of hypericin with β-lactoglobulin has antimicrobial activity with potential applications in dairy industry

Title	The complex of hypericin with β-lactoglobulin has antimicrobial activity with potential applications in dairy industry
Publication Type	Journal Article
Year of Publication	2015
Authors	Rodríguez-Amigo, B, Delcanale P, Rotger G, Juárez-Jiménez J, Abbruzzetti S, Summer A, Agut M, Luque F.J, Nonell S, Viappiani C
Journal	Journal of Dairy Science
Volume	98
Pagination	89 - 94
ISSN	0022-0302
Keywords	antimicrobial
Abstract	Abstract Using a combination of molecular modeling and spectroscopic experiments, the naturally occurring, pharmacologically active hypericin compound is shown to form a stable complex with the dimeric form of β-lactoglobulin (β-LG). Binding is predicted to occur at the narrowest cleft found at the interface between monomers in the dimeric β-LG. The complex is able to preserve the fluorescence and singlet oxygen photosensitizing properties of the dye. The equilibrium constant for hypericin binding has been determined as Ka = 1.40 ± 0.07 µM−1, equivalent to a dissociation constant, Kd = 0.71 ± 0.03 µM. The complex is active against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Overall, the results are encouraging for pursuing the potential application of the complex between hypericin and β-LG as a nanodevice with bactericidal properties for disinfection.
URL	http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030214007887
DOI	http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2014-8691

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