Characterization and Cryoprotection of Invasive Silver Carp (Hypophthalmicthys molitrix) Protein Hydrolysates

Abstract

ABSTRACTSilver carp (Hypophthalmicthys molitrix) is regarded as an invasive, underutilized freshwater fish causing environmental and economic complications along the U.S. Mississippi River System. In this study, silver carp protein hydrolysates (FPH) were obtained from 30, 60, 90, 120, and 240 min hydrolysis with Protamex®. Amino acid composition showed polar amino acids, including Asp and Glu, and freed hydrophobic residues in FPH-90 and FPH-240. Protein surface hydrophobicity of FPH increased with increasing degree of hydrolysis. Cryoprotection was evaluated using a muscle (mince) food system with 6% FPH (w/w) from each hydrolysis time condition, an untreated mince (CTRL), and 8% (w/w) 1:1 sucrose-sorbitol (SUSO), respectively. After six freeze-thaw cycles (D7), all FPH treatments had lower (p < 0.05) expressible moisture, indicating strong water-holding capacity by the FPH. FPH formulations also imparted antifreeze activity equal to or better than SUSO, with the FPH-90 exhibiting higher (p < 0.05) proportion (43.9%) of unfrozen water at D7. Results from this study provide preliminary evidence for development of effective cryoprotectants using an underutilized, invasive fish species that can be exploited for environmental and economic gain in the form of value-added ingredients and further provide opportunities to understand the fundamental physicochemical properties governing cryoprotection of FPH in a frozen mince system.