Genetic polymorphism of kappa casein and casein micelle size in the Bulgarian Rhodopean cattle breed

The present study aimed to compare the size of casein micelle in cow milk sample in function of kappa casein (CSN3) genetic polymorphism. Sixteen cows from Bulgarian Rhodopean cattle breed were genotyped by PCR-RFLP analysis. Milk samples from the three found CSN3 genotypes (AB, AA and BB) were employed for the determination of casein micelles size by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). The results showed differences in the size and polydispersity of the casein micelles between the milks of cows with different genotypes. Hydrodynamic radii of micelles at a scattering angle of 90 °C varied from 80 to 120 nm and polydispersity varied from 0.15 to 0.37. In conclusion casein micelle size of CSN3 AA cows (~ 120 nm) exceed with about 60% cows with AB (~ 80 nm) and BB genotype (~ 70 nm). These results could be useful for improving technological properties of the milk