Collagen-bound collagenolytic enzyme in rabbit skeletal muscle

In order to elucidate the changes in connective tissue which occur during meat conditioning, a study was made of the collagenolytic enzyme in muscle. Collagenolytic enzyme was detected in the collagen fraction of rabbit skeletal muscle. Electrophoretic and electron microscopic studies of the effects of the collagenolytic enzyme on the collagen indicated that this enzyme could digest the β-subunit of the soluble collagen and cause fragmentation, swelling and splitting of the collagen fibrils.