Abstract: Soluble proteins were isolated from meat and mantle of Hyriopsis cumingii after pearls was harvested and the properties of the proteins isolates were compared. The recovery rates of both the water-soluble protein which was extracted by 1:10 (m/V) water for 1 h two times and the salt-soluble protein which was extracted by 1:10 (m/V) 5% NaCl for 24 h are above 65%. The SDS-PAGE results showed that the water-soluble protein from the mantle is similar to that from the meat. However, the salt-soluble proteins are different, the salt-soluble protein from the mantle having 4 bands from 82 kD to 97 kD, but the salt- soluble protein from the meat having only band at 97 kD. The amino acid composition showed that the soluble proteins isolates have rich essential amino acid above 46%, and the delicious amino acids (Glu and Asp) are above 28% in soluble proteins isolates from the mantle and above 35% in soluble proteins isolates from the meat.

Key words: Hyriopsis cumingii, mantle, meat, soluble proteins, recovery, properties