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Discovery of Meat Tenderness Biomarker by Liquid Isoelectric Focusing (OFFGEL) (CAT#: STEM-ET-0352-ZJF)

Introduction

Tenderness is considered to be one of the most important sensory characteristics in determining the quality of beef. Meat tenderness is the result of different factors like muscle fiber characteristics, sarcomere shortening during rigor development and collagen amount and solubility. Protein biomarkers of meat tenderness are critical for predicting meat quality as well as industry profitability. In this service, myofibrillar fraction of Longissimus thoracis muscle is separated by a novel fractionation approach based on liquid isoelectric focusing (OFFGEL) and further analyzed by SDS-PAGE and liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Obtained OFFGEL fraction profiles are reproducible allowing the comparison of both meat qualities and revealing 7 protein bands capable to discriminate between tender and tough samples.




Principle

Isoelectric focusing (IEF) is a method of electrophoresis that separates proteins according to their isoelectric point. It performs in a particular pH gradient, in which proteins are separated by differences in their isoelectric points. The isoelectric point (pI) is the pH at which the net charge of the protein is zero. Protein is positively charged when its pI is above the solution's pH, so it migrates towards the cathode. Conversely, protein is negatively charged when its pI is below the solution's pH, so it migrates towards the anode. Protein has no net charge at its pl and stops migrating. Based on this principle, proteins can be separated into sharp bands with each protein positioned at a point in the pH gradient corresponding to its pI.

Applications

Food analysis

Procedure

1. Preparation: Prepare the gel containing the sample. Mix the solution and add it to a glass tube to form a gel. Prepare the fixing solution, dyeing solution and decolorization solution.
2. Electrophoresis: Add the appropriate acidic solution in the positive electrophoresis tank, and the appropriate alkaline solution in the negative electrophoresis tank. Switch on the electrophoresis apparatus and set the voltage and current. Perform pre-electrophoresis for a period of time to form a pH gradient in the gel. Then set the electrophoresis apparatus to a higher voltage and perform electrophoresis for a period of time.
3. Determination: Different protein components focus on the corresponding pI. Fix, stain and decolorize the gel. Finally, dry it for storage.

Materials

• Isoelectric focusing apparatus
• Sample solution
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