Associations among Protein Biomarkers and pH and Color Traits in Longissimus thoracis and Rectus abdominis Muscles in Protected Designation of Origin Maine-Anjou Cull Cows

This, study investigated the relationships among a list :Of 23 protein biomarkers with CIE-L*a*b* meat-Color traits and ultimate pH on Longissimus thoracis (LT) and Rectus abdominis (RA) muscles of 48 protected designation of origin Maine Anjou, cows. The technological parameters were correlated with several biomarkers and were in some cases muscle-dependent. More biomarkers were related to pHu in LT,than in RA muscle. Some consistencies were found, by the common correlation of pHu with MyHC-IIa and MyHC-ILx. The pHu of the LT muscle was also correlated with other cytoskeletal entities and proteins belonging to metabolism and cellular stress. In contrast-to the relationships found between biomarkers and LT pHu, more proteins were related to the instrumental color-coordinates in RA than in LT muscle. The regression equations were parameter and muscle-dependent. Certain of "the retained,protein explained more than one color coordinate. Hsp70-Grp75 was positive in the models of L*, a*, b*, and c*-of LT and of b* in the RA muscle. Further heat shock proteins were strongly related with the" meat color coordinates in both-muscles. The involvement of metabolic enzymes and rriyofibrillar proteins in the meat color development was, also verified in this experiment. This study confir=med once again the importance of numerous biological pathways in beef colon