This study aimed to investigate the effects of electron beam (E-beam) irradiation at different doses (0-15 kGy) on the solubility, rheological properties, emulsification characteristics, and moisture distribution of chicken myofibrillar proteins (MPs). Irradiation treatment notably increased the solubility, surface hydrophobicity, emulsification properties, and apparent viscosity of MPs, based on conformational changes caused by irradiation-induced oxidative denaturation of proteins. However, high doses of irradiation (15 kGy) induced in excessive cross-linking and aggregation of proteins, reducing the solubility, emulsification properties, and shear stress. Degradation of myosin heavy and light chains in irradiated MPs increased the content of β-turns and random coils. Additionally, the initial relaxation times of T21 and T22 in irradiated protein gels were reduced, and the peak value of P21 was increased, which improved the water-capturing ability of protein gels. Altogether, these results findings suggest that electron beam irradiation can be applied as a potential technique for modifying muscle proteins.
Keywords: Electron beam irradiation; Moisture distribution; Myofibrillar protein; Rheological property; Secondary structure.
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