Interaction of calmodulin with lactoferrin.

Calmodulin, as a major intracellular calcium-binding protein, regulates many Ca(2+)-dependent enzymes and plays an important role in a wide spectrum of cellular functions of the eukaryotes. Interaction between calmodulin and human lactoferrin, a 78 kDa protein with antibacterial properties, was found in the presence of Ca2+ using (i) a method for the detection of calmodulin binding proteins with biotinylated calmodulin, (ii) affinity chromatography on an agarose-calmodulin column with subsequent detection by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The binding of calmodulin to lactoferrin blocked the ability of lactoferrin to agglutinate Micrococcus lysodeikticus.