In this work the stability parameters of bovine beta-lactoglobulin, variant A (BLG-A), with regard to their transition curves induced by dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C(12)TAB), tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C(14)TAB) and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C(16)TAB) as cationic surfactants, were determined at 298K. For each transition curve, the conventional method of analysis which assumes a linear concentration dependence of the pre- and post-transition base lines, gave the most realistic values for Delta G(D)(H(2)O). The results represent the increase in the denaturating power of surfactants with an increase in hydrocarbon chain length. The value of about 22.27 kJ . mol(-1) was obtained for Delta G(D)(H(2)O) from transition curves. Subsequently, the retinol binding property of BLG as its functional indicator was investigated in the presence of these surfactants using the spectrofluorimeter titration method. The results represent the substantial enhancement of retinol binding affinity of BLG in the presence of these surfactants. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.