Effect of pressure treatment on the sarcoplasmic reticulum of red and white muscles
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Updated: May 27, 2026

Purification of the Sarco-Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+-ATPase from Rabbit Muscle
Published on: March 21, 2025
1CSIRO Division of Food Research, Meat Research Laboratory, PO Box 12, Cannon Hill, Queensland, 4170, Australia.
Abstract:
The effects of high pressure (150 MPa) on the sarcoplasmic reticulum of red and white muscles have been studied. When whole muscle is pressurised either pre-rigor or post-rigor the major effect on the SR is the loss of extra ATPase activity and the loss of several proteins including the 100,000 dalton ATPase and calsequestrin. When isolated SR is pressurised the extra ATPase activity is lost but there is no protein degradation. Measurements of muscle pH and the influence of pH on pressurisation effects indicate active proteolysis in white muscle when it is pressurised. In all these studies the basal ATPase activity was relatively unaffected. The effect of pressure treatment on the yield of SR protein varied with different muscles, being greatest in the muscles which had the highest concentration of extra ATPase and calcium uptake activities. These muscles also reached the lowest pH during pressurisation, thus favouring proteolysis.
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