Gamma-radiation-induced damage of chicken myosin and actin

Abstract

The single 60Co gamma radiation-induced damage of purified chicken myosin and actin in N2O saturated solution is dose dependent protein cross-linking. The differences in myosin and actin conformation and Mm do not influence the type of radiation-induced damage, but they influence the extent of radiation-induced damage, judged by the lower cross linking of fibrillar myosin compared to actin. The radiolytic behavior of myosin and actin in purified forms is different from their radiolysis in intact muscle, according to the absence of protein fragmentation in the former. The results confirm that industrially sterilized meat may contain significant amount (25- 35%) of structurally altered proteins.