The dynamics of the biological membrane surrounding the buffalo milk fat globule investigated as a function of temperature
Résumé
The biological membrane surrounding fat globules in milk (the MFGM) is poorly understood, despite its
importance in digestion and in determining the properties of fat globules. In this study, in situ structural
investigations of buffalo MFGM were performed as a function of temperature (4–60 C), using confocal
microscopy. We demonstrate that temperature and rate of temperature change affected the lipid
domains formed in the MFGM with the lateral segregation (i) of high Tm lipids and cholesterol in a Lo
phase for both T < Tm and T > Tm and (ii) of high Tm lipids in a gel phase for T < Tm. Rapid cooling favours
nucleation, while slow cooling favours growth, leading to the formation of small and large lipid domains,
respectively. Changes in the interfacial properties of the MFGM, as a function of temperature, could modulate
the functions of fat globules during processing and digestion