Changes in postmortem metabolites profile of atypical and typical DFD beef

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Metabolomics
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Dark, firm, dry (DFD) beef presents quality challenges due to altered postmortem metabolism.
• Understanding the specific metabolic changes in atypical and typical DFD beef is essential for quality improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare the postmortem metabolite profiles of normal, atypical DFD, and typical DFD beef.
• To identify key metabolites and metabolic pathways affected by DFD meat development.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS) for metabolite profiling.
• Analyzed the longissimus thoracis muscle from normal, atypical DFD, and typical DFD beef samples.
• Performed Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis to interpret metabolomic data.

Main Results:

• Typical DFD beef showed lower L*, a*, b*, glycogen, and lactic acid content compared to normal beef.
• A total of 240 compounds differed significantly among the groups.
• Atypical DFD beef had elevated levels of specific phosphorylated sugars and intermediates, while typical DFD beef showed increased amino acid content.
• KEGG analysis highlighted alterations in pathways related to energy metabolism, amino acid synthesis, and nutrient absorption.

Conclusions:

• Postmortem metabolite concentrations and metabolic pathways differ significantly between normal, atypical DFD, and typical DFD beef.
• Metabolomic profiling provides insights into the biochemical basis of DFD meat characteristics.
• These findings can contribute to strategies for managing and improving DFD meat quality.