Protein cross-linking ability of sarcoplasmic proteins extracted from threadfin bream

Sarcoplasmic proteins extracted from threadfin bream (TB, Nemipterus sp.) contained transglutaminase (TGase) activity exhibiting a pH optima at 7.5. Activity increased with CaCl2 and reached the maximum at 5 mmol/L, showing the Ca2+-dependent characteristic. TGase activity staining on native-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (native-PAGE) showed two fluorescent bands catalyzing incorporation of monodansylcadavarine (MDC) into di-methylated casein (DMC). However, both fluorescent bands showed only one major protein band with a molecular weight of about 66 kDa on sodium dodecylsulfate-PAGE (SDS-PAGE), suggesting the presence of isozymes. The TB sarcoplasmic protein (TBSP) concentrated using a 30-kDa ultrafiltration membrane induced cross-linkings of bovine serum albumin when incubated at 25 °C for 6 h. Addition of the concentrated TBSP at 1.6 g protein/100 g along with 0.1 g CaCl2/100 g resulted in a 1.8-fold increase in the breaking force of the proteinase-laden lizardfish surimi pre-incubated at 37 °C for 20 min. TBSP effectively minimized proteolysis of lizardfish surimi at 37 °C. TBSP could be a promising protein additive that improves textural properties of proteinase-laden surimi.