Effects of hydrostatic high pressure on the structure and antibacterial activity of recombinant human lactoferrin from transgenic rice

High pressure was applied to recombinant human lactoferrin obtained from rice (rhLF) and its effect was evaluated on the structure and activity of the protein. Treatments of 400, 500, and 650 MPa for 15 min (20 °C), were applied to rhLF at 2 mg/mL in three iron-saturation forms. The structural characteristics of the treated proteins were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and by fluorometric analysis, and immunoreactivity by ELISA. Iron retention and binding properties and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli O157:H7 were also studied. The results obtained indicate that the treatments at 400 and 500 MPa did not greatly modifiy the conformation of lactoferrin, meanwhile treatment at 650 MPa affected in different degrees the three forms of rhLF. With respect to antibacterial activity, only apo rhLF showed antibacterial activity against E. coli, activity that was maintained after treatment at 400 MPa, while holo and AsIs rhLF did not inhibit the growth of E. coli.