INVESTIGATION OF CHANGES IN MEAT PROTEINS DURING FROZEN STORAGE

The effect of freezing and frozen storage on proteins was investigated in case of pork L. dorsi muscle. After fresh pork was sliced (1 cm thickness), wrapped and frozen (2 different velocities) samples were taken (control, 48 h-, 2, 4 and 6 month-frozen storage) and changes in proteins investigated by DSC and SDS-PAGE. DSC-thermograms show 4 peaks corresponding to myosin (peak 1) and actin (peak 4). Peak 2 reflects the sarcoplasmic proteins and connective tissue contribution. Peak 3 is not defined. When measuring the enthalpies of the DSC-thermograms, it can be observed that the enthalpy ascribed to myosin decreases during frozen storage, while the enthalpy corresponding to actin is not affected. At the beginning of our experiments SDS-PAGE was supposed to be a proper method for the investigation of protein denaturation. Our results show no significant changes in the electropherograms during the whole period of frozen storage.