Ovine β-lactoglobulin at atomic resolution

The crystal structure of the triclinic form of the milk protein β-lactoglobulin from sheep (Ovis aries) at 1.1 Å resolution is described together with a comparison of the triclinic structures of the low-pH bovine and high-pH ovine proteins. All three structures are remarkably similar, despite the well known pH-dependent conformational transition described for the bovine and porcine proteins that occurs in solution. The high resolution of the present structure determination has allowed a more accurate description of the protein than has hitherto been possible, but it is still not clear whether flexibility changes in the external loops can compensate for the presence of a significant void in the unliganded interior of the structure.