Abstract Reversible and irreversible states of pressuredissociated casein micelles were studied by in situ light scattering techniques and ex situ atomic force microscopy. AFM experiments performed at ambient pressure reveal heterogeneities across the micelle, suggesting a sub-structure on a 20 nm scale. At pressures between 50 and 250 MPa, the native micelles disintegrate into small fragments on the scale of the observed sub-structure. At pressures above 300 MPa the micelles fully decompose into their monomeric constituents. After pressure release two discrete populations of casein aggregates are observed, depending on the applied initial pressure: Between 160 and 240 MPa stable micelles with diameters near 100 nm without detectable sub-structures are formed. Casein micelles exposed to pressures above 280 MPa re-associate at ambient pressure yielding minimicelles with diameters near 25 nm. The implications concerning structural models are discussed.     «

Abstract Reversible and irreversible states of pressuredissociated casein micelles were studied by in situ light scattering techniques and ex situ atomic force microscopy. AFM experiments performed at ambient pressure reveal heterogeneities across the micelle, suggesting a sub-structure on a 20 nm scale. At pressures between 50 and 250 MPa, the native micelles disintegrate into small fragments on the scale of the observed sub-structure. At pressures above 300 MPa the micelles fully decompose int...     »