Low-frequency alternating magnetic field and CaCl2 influence the physicochemical, conformational and gel characteristics of low-salt myofibrillar protein

In this study, the improvement mechanism of low -frequency alternating magnetic field (LF-AMF, 5 mT, 3 h) combined with calcium chloride (CaCl 2 , 0 - 100 mM) on the gel characteristics of low -salt myofibrillar protein (MP) was investigated. LF-AMF combined with 80 mM CaCl 2 treatment increased solubility (32.71%), surface hydrophobicity (40.86 mu g), active sulfhydryl content (22.57%), water -holding capacity (7.15%). Besides, the combined treatment decreased turbidity, particle size and intrinsic fluorescence strength of MP. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) results indicated that the combined treatment altered the secondary structure of MP by increasing beta -sheet and beta -turn, and reducing alpha-helix and random coil. The combined treatment also induced a high G ' value and shortened T 2 relaxation time for forming a homogeneous and compact gel structure. These results revealed that LF-AMF combined CaCl 2 treatment could as a potential approach for modifying the gel characteristics of low -salt MP.