Polyclonal antibodies raised against the plasmin-released 1-28 phosphopeptide from bovine
-casein[i.e.,
-CN(f1-28)4P] specifically recognized the tryptic
-casein 1-25 and 2-25 peptides, whateverthe degree of phosphorylation, but were unresponsive to the shortened
-casein 16-22 phosphopeptide. These antibodies were able to recognize the parent bovine
-casein as well as the homologouswater buffalo protein, but they could not detect the homologous counterparts from ovine and caprinemilks. Such antibodies were used in competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to monitorthe plasmin-mediated release of the 1-28 phosphopeptide from
-casein and to evaluate the residualnative
-casein in bovine cheese sampled during ripening. Applications of these polyclonal antibodiesare suggested mainly for estimating the age of hard cheeses and, possibly, for tracing the presenceof bovine casein in fresh ovine and caprine cheeses.Keywords: Cheese; ripening; quality certification; phosphopeptides; antipeptide antibodies;
ELISA;immunoblotting