The effect of active caspase-3 on degradation of chicken myofibrillar proteins and structure of myofibrils

► We examine if caspase-3 could reproduce the degradation patterns of protein during ageing in vitro. ► Caspase-3 could reproduce the degradation patterns of titin, nebulin and α-actinin. ► Caspase-3 caused little proteolysis of desmin and no appearance of 28-30 kDa peptides. ► Caspase-3 also induced the weakening in I band adjacent to Z-lines. ► Caspase-3 is likely involved in tenderisation together with other proteases.