The role of microorganisms in the degradation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in chill-stored common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fillets

•AMPD was derived from the carp itself, and less related to the microbe.•ACP was derived from the carp in the first 2 days' storage.•ACP was derived from both fish and spoilage bacteria in middle and later stages of storage.•Degradation of ATP to IMP was less related to the microorganism.•Transformation of HxR to Hx was quite related with spoilage bacteria.

Biochemical and microbial changes after harvest strongly affect the final quality and shelf life of fish and fish products. In this study, the role of microbes in the degradation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and the origin of adenosine monophosphate deaminase (AMPD) and acid phosphatase (ACP) in common carp fillets during different stages of chilled storage (at 4 °C) were investigated. The content of ATP, ADP, AMP, IMP, HxR, and Hx, the activity of AMPD and ACP, and the total count of viable, Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, H2S-producing bacteria, and lactic acid bacteria were examined. Results indicated that the population of microbial communities in control samples increased with storage time, and Pseudomonas peaked on the 10th day of storage. Changes in AMPD activity were less related to the abundance of microbes during the entire storage period. However, ACP was derived from both fish muscle and microbial secretion during the middle and late stages of storage. Degradation of ATP to IMP was not affected by spoilage bacteria, but the hydrolysis of IMP, and the transformation of HxR to Hx was affected considerably by the spoilage bacteria.