Who is Mr. HAMLET? Interaction of human [alpha]-lactalbumin with monomeric oleic acid

An oleic acid (OA)-pretreated ion-exchange column (HAMLET) that triggers several cell death pathways in various tumor cells is used to prepare a specific state of the human milk [Ca.sup.2+] binding protein [alpha]-lactalbumin (hLA) complexed with OA. The findings indicated that the simple mixing of [alpha]-lactalbumin and oleic acid might result in formation of the complex possessing cytotoxic activity with respect to tumor cells.