• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.292-300
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• 1998

This study was undertaken to determine the influence in the Z-disk domain of titin on the tenderization of meat by the structure change of myofibrillar Z-disks during post-mortem aging. After weakening the structure of Z-disks, the Z-disk region was splitted. As the results, myofibrils were fragmented by mechanical strength. Using indirect immunofluorescence microscopy, we show that the Z-disk domain of titin was disappeared from myofibrils in this period. There phenomenon were also shown by treating myofibrils with a solution containing 0.1mM $Ca^{2+}$. We conclude that change in Z-disk domain of titin is directly effected on the tenderization of meat during post-mortem aging and these change is due to manily calcium ions.