Myosin heavy chain isoform and metabolic profile differ in beef steaks varying in tenderness

Meat Sci. 2020 Dec:170:108266. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2020.108266. Epub 2020 Jul 28.

Abstract

Our objective was to investigate possible differences in muscle fiber characteristics of beef longissimus lumborum (LL) steaks varying in tenderness (very tender vs. intermediate tender). Therefore, the relative abundance of myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms and activity/abundance of several glycolytic and oxidative enzymes were compared between the two steak groups. Greater (P < 0.05) content of MHC type IIa (MHC-IIa) and activities of phosphofructokinase (PFK) and glycogen phosphorylase (GP) were observed in the very tender steaks. Conversely, intermediate tender steaks had greater (P < 0.05) contents of MHC type I (MHC-I) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and greater citrate synthase (CS) activity. Increased tenderness in the very tender steaks was associated with greater (P < 0.05) proteolysis as evaluated by desmin and troponin-T degradation. Further, mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) was lower (P < 0.05) in the very tender steaks than steaks of intermediate tenderness. Collectively, shifting muscle characteristics toward a more glycolytic type appears to positively impact postmortem proteolysis and tenderization.

Keywords: Fiber type characteristics; Mitochondria; Proteolysis; Tenderness.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium Channels
  • Cattle
  • Desmin / metabolism
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / metabolism*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / enzymology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Myosin Heavy Chains / analysis*
  • Proteolysis
  • Red Meat / analysis*
  • Troponin T / metabolism

Substances

  • Calcium Channels
  • Desmin
  • Troponin T
  • mitochondrial calcium uniporter
  • Myosin Heavy Chains