Advances in apoptotic mediated proteolysis in meat tenderisation

► Apoptosis is the mode of cell death in skeletal muscle postmortem. ► Caspases are active and cleave specific substrates in skeletal muscle postmortem. ► Caspases mimic proteolytic degradation patterns observed in situ in vitro. ► Caspases interact with the calpain system, a known contributor to meat tenderisation. ► Data supports a role for caspases in postmortem proteolysis and meat tenderisation.