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Proteolysis and Free Amino Acid in Langshan Chicken during Curing and Air Drying Ripening

JI Wei-wei, ZANG Ming-wu, ZHANG Ying-yang   

  1. 1. Jiangsu Polytechnic College of Agriculture and Forestry, Jurong 212400, China;
    2. China Meat Research Center, Beijing 100068, China; 3. Nantong Shuanghe Food Co. Ltd., Nantong 226352, China
  • Online:2014-04-15 Published:2014-04-18

Abstract:

This study was undertaken to investigate the proteolysis of myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic proteins and theconsequent generation of free amino acids in the breast muscle of Langshan chicken from Nantong, Jiangsu province duringcuring and air drying-ripening. The results showed that the proteolysis index (PI) decreased significantly (P < 0.05) duringthe air drying-ripening process. The contents of myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic proteins in chicken breast muscle werereduced significantly at the end of curing (P < 0.05). Electrophoresis analysis showed that the proteins with a molecularweight more than 85 kD were degraded into smaller molecules (20-25 kD). Moreover, the total amount of free aminoacids indicated a significant upward trend (P < 0.05), suggesting the formation of flavour precursors from decomposedproteins. However, some free amino acids decreased at the late drying-ripening stage. This phenomenon indicates that highertemperature can promote further conversion of free amino acids into flavour precursors.

Key words: Langshan chicken, air-drying, proteolysis, free amino acid