Preliminary study on the characterization of Longissimus lumborum dark cutting meat in Angus x Nellore crossbreed cattle using NMR-based metabolomics

Author(s)

Brandao Consolo, Nara Regina ^{[1, 2]} ; Rosa, Alessandra Fernandes ^[2] ; Garibaldi Simon Barbosa, Luis Carlos ^[2] ; Maclean, Paul Haydon ^[1] ; Higuera-Padilla, Angel ^[3] ; Colnago, Luiz Alberto ^[3] ; Lencioni Titto, Evaldo Antonio ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] AgResearch, Grasslands Res Ctr, Tennent Dr, 11 Dairy Farm Rd, Palmerston North 4442 - New Zealand

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Zootecnia & Engn Alimentos FZEA USP, Duque Caxias Norte 225, BR-13635900 Pirassununga, SP - Brazil

^[3] EMBRAPA Instrumentacao, XV Novembro 1452, BR-13560970 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MEAT SCIENCE; v. 172, FEB 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate meat quality properties, muscle metabolite profile and metabolic pathways associated with the occurrence of dark cutting meat in Angus x Nellore crossbreed cattle. After 14 days' ageing, dark cutting meat presented a higher pH, lower cooking loss and colour parameters, and greater tenderness compared with normal meat. Dark cutting meat had a higher ATP level and lower concentrations of glucose-6-phosphate, lactate, glucose, serine, threonine, creatine phosphate, inosine, leucine, methionine, succinate and glucose-1-phosphate compared to normal meat. In dark cutting samples, the ultimate pH was positively correlated with carnitine and negatively correlated with glucose-6-phosphate. However, in normal meat, the ultimate pH presented a positive correlation with arginine, leucine, methionine, proline, threonine, tyrosine and valine. Pathway analysis showed that differentiation of the groups was linked to energetic pathways such as starch and sucrose metabolism, the pentose phosphate pathway, amino sugar, nucleotide sugar metabolism, and glycolysis or gluconeogenesis. In conclusion, the occurrence of dark cutting meat has a notable impact on meat quality attributes and concentrations of post-mortem glycolytic metabolites, appears to be correlated with mitochondrial activity and affects energetic metabolic pathways. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/13656-8 - Development and application of nuclear magnetic resonance in products and agricultural processes
• Grantee: Luiz Alberto Colnago
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/09800-3 - Metabolomics characterization of sheep and cattle meat
• Grantee: Nara Regina Brandão Cônsolo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor