Abstrakt: |
Myosin heavy chain mRNA integrity was investigated in porcine Longissimus muscle samples collected at various postmortem time points using Real-Time PCR. Myosin heavy chain composition is a variable component of muscle, and it is influential on muscle characteristics and ultimately meat quality. The ability to determine myosin heavy chain composition from samples that are collected up to 72 hours postmortem would enable researchers to investigate a larger population of animals collected from commercial facilities. Muscle samples were collected at 0 hour, 45 minutes, 2 hour, 4 hour, 6 hour, 24 hour, 48 hour, and 72 hours postmortem. Total RNA was isolated and reverse transcribed into cDNA. Myosin Heavy Chain type I, IIa, IIx, and IIb gene expression was determined using a Real-Time PCR probe based assay, and was standardized to β-Actin. Results from the qPCR yielded fairly consistent results from 45 min to 72 hr. However, at time 0 the MYCH IIx percent composition was higher compared to the other time points. This may be indicative of continual transcriptional activity shortly after death under postmortem muscle conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |