Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026

Exploring the Longissimus Muscle: Unraveling its Correlation with Meat Quality in Bos indicus and Crossbred Bulls
Published on: July 12, 2024
Biochemical factors influencing metmyoglobin formation in beef muscles
1Station de Recherches sur la Viande, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Theix-63122 Ceyrat, France.
Abstract:
To explain the different rates of metmyoglobin accumulation in bovine muscles, biochemical factors such as oxygen consumption rate, cytochrome a(+a(3)) content, myoglobin autoxidation and enzymic ferrimyoglobin reduction were studied. The measurements involved five cows and five bulls. Only six cows were used for Metmyoglobin Reducing Activity (MRA) measurements. Three muscles with different colour stability (Tensor fasciae latae, Psoas major and Diaphragma medialis) were chosen. Meat colour stability, as well as the oxido-reduction potential of myoglobin, were highly related to muscle type. The animal effect was low or non-significant. Muscles with the poorest colour stability, such as Psoas major and Diaphragma medialis had the highest oxidative activities (oxygen consumption rate) and the highest myoglobin autoxidation rates. Enzymic ferrimyoglobin reduction, estimated either by spectrophotometric measurements from muscle homogenates in aerobic conditions ('Metmyoglobin Reductase Activity') or by reflectance measurements in anaerobic conditions (MRA), does not explain the differences observed in muscle colour stability.
Related Concept Videos
Protein Denaturation
Bacterial Protein Maturation
Overview of Protein Metabolism
Amino acids play various roles in the body once they are absorbed into cells. They are restructured...
Formation of Muscle Fibers from Myoblasts
Muscle progenitor cells (MPCs) are formed from the myotomes. MPCs express genes that encode the transcription factors Pax3 and Pax7. Along with Pax 3/7, other transcription factors...
Gene Families
Occasionally these regions can be adapted to take on new roles within the organism, becoming novel genes...
Amino Acid Catabolism

