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.