Effect of tea polyphenols on the tenderness of yak meat

Abstract

The effect and action mechanism of tea polyphenols (TP) on the tenderness of yak meat were investigated. With the treatment of TP at the low concentrations, the myofibril fragmentation index (MFI) value of yak meat was increased and its microstructure was obviously changed. By using fluorescence spectroscopy and the determination of surface hydrophobicity, the tertiary structure of myofibrillar protein (MP) showed the obvious changes with the treatment of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). In addition, the secondary structure of MP was also obviously changed according to the measurement of circular dichroism (CD) spectrum, while the α‐helix structure of MP decreased and the β‐sheet increased. Furthermore, according to the analysis of molecular docking, EGCG could interact tightly with myofibril protein by hydrogen bonds, and changed its spatial configuration and molecular force. All results suggested that TPs showed the potentially value to improve the tenderness of yak meat in food industry. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Yak meat is more and more popular by its high nutrition value. But due to its special myofibril protein, the tenderness of yak meat is unfavorably and affects its sensory properties, which may limit its processing and consumption in food industry. In present study, TPs was used to improve the tenderness of yak meat by changing the spatial configuration and molecular force of myofibril protein, which suggested that TPs showed the potential value to enhance the quality of yak meat during its processing in food industry.