Characteristics of gelatin from the skins of bigeye snapper, Priacanthus tayenus and Priacanthus macracanthus

Gelatins extracted from the skins containing fine scales of two species of bigeye snapper, Priacanthus tayenus (GT) and Priacanthus macracanthus (GM), were characterised. Both gelatins had the protein as the major component with high content of imino acids (proline & hydroxyproline) (186.29–187.42 mg/g). GT and GM contained calcium at levels of 6.53 and 2.92 g/kg, respectively. Both gelatins contained α1 and α2 chains as the predominant components and some degradation peptides. The absorption bands of both gelatins in Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra were mainly situated in the amide band region (amide I and amide II). GT and GM had a relative solubility greater than 90% in the wide pH ranges (1–10). The bloom strength of GM (254.10 g) was higher than that of GT (227.73 g) (P < 0.05), but was slightly lower than that of commercial bovine gelatin (293.22 g) (P < 0.05). Finer gel structure with smaller strands and voids was observed in GM gel, in comparison with that observed in GT counterpart.