Biophenol-protein supramolecular models by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometric experiments

Biomimetic supramolecular formation between hydroxytyrosol, a biophenol found in olives and virgin olive oil, and caffeine or Asp-Phe, as proteic models, has been achieved by FAB-mass spectrometric experiments. The protonated supermolecules show a consistently higher difference in stability constants, thus indicating a preferential molecular recognition site provided by caffeine, the biomimetic model of proline-rich mucoproteins. The spontaneous aggregation of the complementary supramolecular components suggests correlations with the sensorial response and the bioavailability of food biophenols.