Centrifugal drip is an accessible source for protein indicators of pork ageing and water-holding capacity

Achieving an improvement in water-holding capacity (WHC) of pork and a reduction in the incidence of pale, soft and exudative (PSE)- and dark, firm and dry (DFD)-like meat is a major challenge for the swine industry. Using proteomics, we sought to identify proteins associated with WHC and to monitor postmortem protein degradation. Twenty longissimus samples were categorised into WHC phenotypes. The centrifugal drip was subjected to SDS-PAGE and mass-spectrometry. Forty-four proteins were identified in the centrifugal drip proteome. Changes occurred in volume of five bands across the ageing period, with most significant changes representing increases between day 3 and day 7. Seven proteins were identified in these bands, most with functions in glycolysis. One band significantly differed in abundance across WHC phenotypes. Peptide signatures of the heat shock protein family were identified in this band.