Study of the polymorphism of ovine αs1- and
αs2-caseins by capillary electrophoresis
Polymorphism of ovine αs1-caseins was studied by capillary electrophoresis at pH 3·0±0·1. Individual caseins (CN) were selected according to their genetic variants, as determined by PAGE and isoelectric focusing. The ovine caseins, containing different genetic variants of αs1-CN and αs2-CN, were fractionated by cation-exchange FPLC®. The αs1-CN variants A, B and C, and the fast moving αs2-CN variant were identified by a capillary electrophoresis method. The fast moving αs2-CN variant, so-called for its behaviour in PAGE, also had a faster electrophoretic mobility than the common αs2-CN when analysed by the present technique. The capillary electrophoresis method gave excellent, rapid, automated separation of αs1-CN and αs2-CN variants and was suitable for screening studies.