Endogenous Proteolytic Systems and Meat Tenderness: Influence of Post-Mortem Storage and Processing

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Date
2021-07-01
Open Access Location
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Korean Society for Food Science of Animal Resources (KoSFA)
Rights
This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Meat proteolytic systems play a crucial role in meat tenderisation. Understanding the effects of processing technologies and post-mortem storage conditions on these systems is important due to their crucial role in determining the quality characteristics of meat and meat products. It has recently been proposed that tenderisation occurs due to the synergistic action of numerous endogenous proteolytic systems. There is strong evidence suggesting the importance of μ-calpain during the initial post-mortem aging phase, while m-calpain may have a role during long-term aging. The caspase proteolytic system is also a candidate for cell degradation in the initial stages of conversion of muscle to meat. The role of cathepsins, which are found in the lysosomes, in post-mortem aging is controversial. Lysosomes need to be ruptured, through aging, or other forms of processing to release cathepsins into the cytosol for participation in proteolysis. A combination of optimum storage conditions along with suitable processing may accelerate protease activity within meat, which can potentially lead to improved meat tenderness. Processing technologies such as high pressure, ultrasound, and shockwave processing have been reported to disrupt muscle structure, which can facilitate proteolysis and potentially enhance the aging process. This paper reviews the recent literature on the impacts of processing technologies along with post-mortem storage conditions on the activities of endogenous proteases in meat. The information provided in the review may be helpful in selecting optimum post-mortem meat storage and processing conditions to achieve improved muscle tenderness within shorter aging and cooking times.
Description
Keywords
endogenous enzymes, meat, post-mortem storage, processing
Citation
Kaur L, Hui SX, Morton JD, Kaur R, Chian FM, Boland M. (2021). Endogenous Proteolytic Systems and Meat Tenderness: Influence of Post-Mortem Storage and Processing.. Food Sci Anim Resour. 41. 4. (pp. 589-607).
Collections