Towards muscle-specific meat color stability of Chinese Luxi yellow cattle: A proteomic insight into post-mortem storage.

Searching for potential predictors of meat color is a challenging task for the meat industry. In this study, the relationship between meat color parameters and the sarcoplasmic proteome of M. longissimuss lumborum (LL) and M. psoas major (PM) from Chinese Luxi yellow cattle during post-mortem storage (0, 5, 10 and 15days) were explored with the aid of the integrated proteomics and bioinformatics approaches. Meat color attributes revealed that LL displayed better color stability than PM during storage. Furthermore, sarcoplasmic proteins of these two muscles were compared between days 5, 10, 15 and day 0. Several proteins were closely correlated with meat color attributes and they were muscle-specific and responsible for the meat color stability at different storage periods. Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, fructose-bisphosphate aldolase A isoform, glycogen phosphorylase, peroxiredoxin-2, phosphoglucomutase-1, superoxide dismutase [Cu-Zn], heat shock cognate protein (71kDa) might serve as the candidate predictors of meat color stability during post-mortem storage. In addition, bioinformatics analyses indicated that more proteins were involved in glycolytic metabolism of LL, which contributed to better meat color stability of LL than PM. The present results could provide a proteomic insight into muscle-specific meat color stability of Chinese Luxi yellow cattle during post-mortem storage.

High pressure induced changes on sarcoplasmic protein fraction and quality indicators.

The combined effect of pressure and mild temperature treatments on bovine sarcoplasmic proteins and quality parameters was assessed. M. longissimus dorsi samples were pressurised in a range of 200-600 MPa and 10-30 degrees C. High Pressure Processing (HPP) induced a reduction of protein solubility (p<0.001) compared to non-treated controls (NT), more pronounced above 200 MPa. HPP at pressures higher than 200 MPa induced a strong modification (p<0.001) of meat colour and a reduction of water holding capacity (WHC). SDS-PAGE analysis demonstrated that HPP significantly modified the composition of the sarcoplasmic protein fraction. The pressurisation temperature mainly affected protein solubility and colour; a smaller effect was observed on protein profiles. Significant correlations (p<0.001) between sarcoplasmic protein solubility and both expressible moisture (r=-0.78) and colour parameters (r=-0.81 to -0.91) suggest that pressure induced denaturation of sarcoplasmic proteins could influence to some extent WHC and colour modifications of beef. Changes in protein band intensities were also significantly correlated with protein solubility, meat lightness and expressible moisture. These results describe the changes induced by HPP on sarcoplasmic proteins and confirm a relationship between modification of the sarcoplasmic protein fraction and alteration of meat quality characteristics.

Effect of selected commercial substances with cryoprotective activity on the quality of mechanically recovered, washed and frozen stored poultry meat.

Investigations were conducted on mechanically recovered poultry meat (MRPM) and on protein preparation obtained from MRPM by washing it first with 1% water solution of sodium chloride and with water afterwards. The raw materials were frozen at the temperature of -23 C. The effect of added stabilizers on the quality of gels produced from fresh raw materials, and after freezing and frozen storage was assessed. The following additives were used: 1% pork hydrolizate (Pork Stock), 0.5% Cremodan containing carrageens, and 1.5% bovine blood plasma (AMP 600N). Freezing and frozen storage caused a significant reduction of functional properties of MRPM and its protein preparation. None of the examined additives protected simultaneously all the investigated functional properties of the frozen samples. The amount of thermal drip, the gel texture and the amount of protein transition heat were determined by scanning differential calorimetry. The lowest thermal drip in gels obtained from frozen-stored samples was observed when bovine blood plasma was used as a stabilizer. On the other hand, the most advantageous protective effect on the proteins of the frozen MRPM and on the preparation, determined by mechanical strain resistance of the gels, was found with 1% pork hydrolizate added. The results of thermodynamic investigations of proteins revealed that the best protective effect on the frozen preparation was observed with 1.5% blood plasma added. No protective activity of added Cremodan on proteins of the frozen protein preparation was noted.