Effect of the fungal extracellular protease EPg222 on texture of whole pieces of pork loin

Proteolytic activity of the fungal protease EPg222 and its effect on texture has been investigated in a meat model system based on sterile pieces of pork loins incubated for 32 days. SDS-PAGE analysis of treated samples showed intense hydrolysis of the myofibrillar proteins H-meromyosin, T-troponin, tropomyosin and the proteins bands of 98, 89, 48, 39, 37 and 28 kDa after 17 days of incubation. Proteolytic activity of the enzyme led to a higher accumulation of NPN in treated than untreated samples. Microstructural analysis of muscle fibres showed loss of muscle fibre structure only in treated batch. The texture profile analysis reveals lower values in hardness, gumminess and chewiness in treated than control batch. This effect may be of great interest in dry-cured meat products to counterbalance the increase of hardness reported in these products as consequence of protein denaturation.