Effects of Ultrasound-Assisted Immersion Freezing on the Protein Structure, Physicochemical Properties and Muscle Quality of the Bay Scallop (Argopecten irradians) during Frozen Storage

Abstract

In this study, the comparison effects of ultrasound-assisted immersion freezing (UIF) at different ultrasonic power, immersion freezing (IF), and air freezing (AF) on the protein thermal stability, protein structure, and physicochemical properties of adductor muscle of scallop (Argopecten irradians) (AMS) during frozen storage were investigated. Principal component analysis and the Taylor diagram were used to comprehensively analyze all the indicators tested. The results showed that the UIF at 150 W (UIF-150) treatment was the most effective way to delay the quality deterioration of AMS during 90-day frozen storage. This was mainly because, compared to AF and IF treatments, UIF-150 treatment more effectively minimized the changes in the primary, secondary and tertiary structures of myofibrillar proteins, and it preserved the protein thermal stability of AMS by producing small and regular ice crystals in the AMS tissue during the freezing process. Moreover, the results of physicochemical properties indicated that UIF-150 treatment significantly inhibited the fat oxidation and microbiological activities of frozen AMS, and it finally maintained the microstructure and texture of AMS during frozen storage. Overall, UIF-150 has potential industrial application prospects in the rapid freezing and quality preservation of scallops.

Commercial Quality, Biological Indices and Biochemical Composition of Queen Scallop Aequipecten opercularis in Culture

“…Furthermore, the rates of increase and decrease are highly correlated to the GSI and to the CI, which has already been documented in previous research [8,18,45]. As the adductor muscle in scallops reached maximum mass before the period of gonad development and in the process of gametogenesis [46,47], the winter period could be a suitable time for harvesting and human consumption because of the scallops' high nutritional values [48]. A monthly approach to protective measures with respect to the period of reproduction for A. opercularis, both in aquaculture and in the wider marine-land interfaces, will provide relevant information on whether there is a closed reproduction season of this species in the Northern Adriatic.…”

“…Furthermore, the biochemical content in scallops was influenced by the seasonal changes in environmental factors, as was found in many previous studies [11,33,39,[41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49]. The biochemical composition of many bivalves indicates annual accumulation patterns and reserve uses as a consequence of a complex interaction between food availability, growth and reproduction [8].…”

Effects of sound energy on proteins and their complexes

“…Furthermore, we will discuss the US effects on amyloidogenic protein self‐assembly and amyloid disassembly as well as on individual proteins rather than on ‘protein isolates’, ‘protein hydrolysates’, or ‘protein concentrates’. The impact of US treatment on such systems can be found in the literature [53–67].…”