Localization of kappa-casein on thin sections of casein micelles by the gold method.

The ultrastructural location of kappa-casein in bovine casein micelles was investigated by the protein A-gold method. Casein micelles, fixed in glutaraldehyde, were embedded at low temperature to enhance immunocytochemical marking of thin sections. kappa-Casein was found distributed throughout the micelles of all sizes with a higher concentration in the smaller micelles. No peripheral location of kappa-casein was observed, even in the larger micelles. These results do not agree with "coat-core" structures proposed for casein micelles. However they favor models where kappa-casein is distributed uniformly throughout the micelles.