Caseins are a family of phosphoproteins (αS1, αS2, β, κ) that account for nearly 80% of bovine milk proteins and that form soluble aggregates known as casein micelles in which κ-casein molecules stabilize the structure. The specific cleavage of κ-casein by chymosin is the first step in the milk clotting process. Gastro-intestinal proteases cleave κ-casein, converting it into an insoluble peptide (para κ-casein) and a soluble hydrophilic glycopeptide called caseinomacropeptide [1]. Caseinomacropeptide is responsible for increased efficiency of digestion, prevention of neonate hypersensitivity to ingested proteins, and inhibition of gastric pathogens.
Allergenic members of this family include milk allergens from cow, sheep and goat [2, 3].
Family-defining Pfam domains (at least one of these domains is present in each family member):
| Pfam domain | Pfam clan | ||
| PF00997 | Kappa casein | - | |
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