l‐histidine improves water retention of heat‐induced gel of chicken breast myofibrillar proteins in low ionic strength solution

The effects of 5 mm l ‐histidine (l ‐His) on water‐binding capacity, gel strength, thermal gelling properties of chicken breast myofibrillar proteins (MPs) in 1 mm NaCl or 0.6 m NaCl solutions (pH 7.0) were investigated. l ‐His could significantly increase the solubility and thermal gelling ability of MPs in 1 mm NaCl. l ‐His at 1 mm NaCl shortened the water relaxation time and decreased the water mobility of MPs gel. l ‐His promoted the formation of MPs gel structure with small pores and thin strands at 1 mm NaCl. These resulted in the enhanced water retention and weak gel strength of MPs in low ionic strength solution. The water‐binding capacity of MPs gels formed in 1 mm NaCl containing 5 mm l ‐His was equivalent to that with 0.6 m NaCl. The information could offer certain theoretical foundation to apply l ‐His as sodium salt substitute for developing low‐salt meat gelling product with high yield.     

低盐和高盐条件下L-组氨酸对肌原纤维蛋白结构及体外消化特性的影响

研究低盐（0.2 mol/L NaCl）及高盐（0.6 mol/L NaCl）条件下L-组氨酸（L-histidine，His）添加量（0、0.2、0.4 g/100 mL）对猪肉肌原纤维蛋白（myofibrillar protein，MP）结构及体外消化特性的影响。结果表明：在低盐和高盐条件下，His的添加均引起MP发生解折叠，使其分子构象发生转变，α-螺旋结构含量降低，并伴随其他二级结构（β-折叠、β-转角、无规则卷曲）含量的增加；同时暴露出埋藏在蛋白分子内部的疏水基团，表面疏水性增加；随着His添加量的升高，MP的α-螺旋结构含量显著下降（P＜0.05），表面疏水性显著升高（P＜0.05）；体外消化结果表明，His的添加使得MP体外消化率显著提高（P＜0.05），酶解产物粒径显著降低（P＜0.05）。因此，在低盐或高盐条件下，His的添加可引起MP结构发生解折叠，暴露出更多酶切位点，进而促进胃蛋白酶和胰蛋白酶对MP的酶解作用，从而提高MP消化率。     

氧化条件下精氨酸对肌原纤维蛋白结构及凝胶性能的调控

以肌原纤维蛋白（myofibrillar protein,MP）为研究对象,以羟自由基作为模拟氧化体系,探究氧化条件下不同浓度L-精氨酸（L-Arg,1、3、5?mmol/L和10?mmol/L）对MP结构及凝胶性能的调控。经不同浓度L-Arg及氧化体系处理后,通过巯基（—SH）及内源色氨酸荧光分析MP构象变化;利用粒径、十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳（sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis,SDS-PAGE）及溶解度分析MP交联聚集情况;采用流变仪、质构仪及扫描电镜等分析MP凝胶性能;通过拉曼光谱分析MP凝胶二级结构。结果表明：氧化条件下L-Arg对MP结构及凝胶性能的调控具有显著的浓度依赖性：当L-Arg添加量为1～5?mmol/L时,对巯基损失有一定的保护作用,而10?mmol/L时,巯基显著降低。L-Arg的添加使内源色氨酸荧光强度降低、粒度增大,SDS-PAGE分析表明氧化诱导二硫键的形成引起蛋白质交联聚集加剧,进而导致溶解度降低。随添加量增加,MP凝胶微观结构更致密,凝胶强度和白度逐渐降低,但凝胶得率逐渐升高。因此,在氧化条件下,当L-Arg添加量为5?mmol/L时,巯基显著增加,蒸煮损失及凝胶强度显著降低,对肉蛋白的氧化稳定性、肉制品的嫩度和持水性有一定的改善作用。     

Konjac flour improved textural and water retention properties of transglutaminase-mediated,heat-induced porcine myofibrillar protein gel: Effect of salt level and transglutaminase incubation

Functional properties of heat-induced gels prepared from microbial transglutaminase (TG)-treated porcine myofibrillar protein (MP) containing sodium caseinate with or without konjac flour (KF) under various salt concentrations (0.1, 0.3 and 0.6 M NaCl) were evaluated. The mixed MP gels with KF exhibited improved cooking yields at all salt concentrations. TG treatment greatly enhanced gel strength and elasticity (storage modulus, G′) at 0.6 M NaCl, but not at lower salt concentrations. The combination of KF and TG improved the gel strength at 0.1 and 0.3 M NaCl and G′ at all salt concentrations, when compared with non-TG controls. Incubation of MP suspensions (sols) with TG promoted the disappearance of myosin heavy chain and the production of polymers. The TG-treated MP mixed gels had a compact structure, compared to those without TG, and the KF incorporation modified the gel matrix and increased its water-holding capacity. Results from differential scanning calorimetry suggested possible interactions of MP with KF, which may explain the changes in the microstructure of the heat-induced gels.     

Hydroxyl Radical and Ferryl-Generating Systems Promote Gel Network Formation of Myofibrillar Protein

ABSTRACT: The objective of the study was to examine how oxidatively induced protein cross-linking would influence the gelation properties of myofibrillar protein (MP) under meat processing conditions. MP suspensions in 0.6 M NaCl at pH 6 were treated with an iron-catalyzed oxidizing system (IOS: 10 μM FeCl₃, 0.1 mM ascorbic acid, 0.05 to 5 mM H₂O₂) or a H₂O₂-activated metmyoglobin oxidizing system (MOS: 0.01 to 0.1 mM metmyoglobin/H₂O₂) that produced hydroxyl radical and ferryl species, respectively. Both oxidizing systems promoted MP thermal gelation, which was evidenced by rapid protein–protein interaction and the enhancement in storage modulus (elasticity) of the gel network as revealed by dynamic rheological testing in the 20 to 74 °C temperature range. This gelation-enhancing effect was attributed to the shift of myosin aggregation in the early stage of heating from predominantly head–head association (nonoxidized control samples) to prevalently tail–tail cross-linking through disulfide bonds. However, both hardness and water-holding capacity of chilled gels tended to decline when MP was exposed to ≥1 mM H₂O₂ in IOS and to all concentrations of metmyoglobin in MOS. Microscopic examination confirmed a more porous structure in oxidized gels when compared with nonoxidized protein gels. The results demonstrated that mild oxidation altered the mode of myosin aggregation in favor of an elastic gel network formation, but it did not improve or had a negative effect on water-binding properties of MP gels. Practical Application: Mild oxidation promotes protein network formation and enhances gelation of myofibrillar protein under normal salt and pH conditions used in meat processing. This oxidative effect, which involves disulfide linkages, is somewhat similar to that in bakery product processing where oxidants are used to improve dough performance through gluten protein interaction.     

Xanthan Enhances Water Binding and Gel Formation of Transglutaminase-Treated Porcine Myofibrillar Proteins

ABSTRACT: In this study, the effect of xanthan on dynamic rheological properties, textural profile, and water binding of transglutaminase (TG)-treated myofibrillar protein (MP) gels was investigated. In experiment 1, MP suspensions (40 mg/mL protein, 0.6 M NaCl) at pH 6.45 with or without 0.05% xanthan were treated with 0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, and 0.5% TG; in experiment 2, MP suspensions (40 mg/mL protein, 0.6 M NaCl) at pHs 6.13, 6.30, 6.45, 6.69 with or without 0.05% xanthan were treated with 0.3% TG. Treated samples were analyzed with differential scanning calorimetry for thermal stability and oscillatory rheometry and Instron penetration tests for gelation properties. The TG treatments lowered the transition temperature (T_m) of MP by as much as 6 °C (P < 0.05) but increased apparent enthalpy of denaturation. However, there was no detectable thermal stability difference between MP samples with or without xanthan. The shear storage modulus (G′) of MP gels increased markedly upon treatments with ≥0.3% TG, and the presence of xanthan further enhanced the gel strength (P < 0.05). The addition of 0.05% xanthan decreased cooking loss of TG-treated MP gels by 17% to 23% when compared with gels without xanthan at all pH levels evaluated (6.13 to 6.67). Thus, the combination of TG and xanthan offered a feasible means to promote cross-linking and gelation of MP while reducing cooking losses.     

NaCl对大菱鲆肌原纤维蛋白特性的影响

以大菱鲆肌原纤维蛋白为对象,考察不同NaCl浓度（0.1、0.2、0.3、0.4、0.5、0.6?mol/L）下肌原纤维蛋白的溶解度、乳化性、化学作用力（离子键、氢键、疏水相互作用）、巯基的变化,并对其二级结构以及流变学特性进行测定。结果表明,随着NaCl浓度的增加,大菱鲆肌原纤维蛋白的溶解度、乳化活性、乳化稳定性、总巯基和活性巯基含量均不断增加;离子键、氢键呈先增加后下降趋势,疏水性相互作用呈先下降后增加的趋势;蛋白质二级结构呈现由螺旋向折叠转化的趋势,其他二级结构无明显变化;肌原纤维蛋白储能模量（G’）不断增加,其中以NaCl浓度0.6?mol/L的实验组储能模量最大。综上所述,NaCl浓度为0.6?mol/L时,大菱鲆肌原纤维蛋白的各项指标良好。     

Protein Oxidation at Different Salt Concentrations Affects the Cross‐Linking and Gelation of Pork Myofibrillar Protein Catalyzed by Microbial Transglutaminase

In a fabricated then restructured meat product, protein gelation plays an essential role in producing desirable binding and fat‐immobilization properties. In the present study, myofibrillar protein (MFP) suspended in 0.15, 0.45, and 0.6 M NaCl was subjected to hydroxyl radical stress for 2 or 24 h and then treated with microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) in 0.6 M NaCl (E : S = 1 : 20) at 4 and 15 °C for 2 h. Protein cross‐linking and dynamic rheological tests were performed to assess the efficacy of MTGase for mediating the gelation of oxidized MFP. MTGase treatments affected more remarkable polymerization of myosin in oxidized MFP than in nonoxidized, especially for samples oxidized at 0.6 M NaCl. Notably, the extent of MTGase‐induced myosin cross‐linking at 15 °C in oxidized MFP improved up to 46.8%, compared to 31.6% in nonoxidized MFP. MTGase treatment at 4 °C for MFP oxidized in 0.6 M NaCl, but not MFP oxidized in 0.15 M NaCl, produced stronger gels than nonoxidized MFP (P < 0.05). The final (75 °C) storage modulus (G′) of oxidized MFP gels was significantly greater than that of nonoxidized, although the G′ of the transient peak (～44.5 °C) showed the opposite trend. Overall, oxidation at high salt concentrations significantly improved MTGase‐mediated myosin cross‐linking and MFP gelation. This might be because under this condition, MTGase had an increased accessibility to glutamine and lysine residues to effectively initiate protein–protein interactions and gel network formation.     

Chemical Modification and Functional Properties of Acylated Beef Heart Myofibrillar Proteins

Beef heart myofibrils were acylated with 0.1, 0.3, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, and 5.0 mmoles anhydride/g protein, at pH 8.0–8.5 and 2–3°C, with acetic anhydride (AA), succinic anhydride (SA), cis,cis,cis,cis-tetrahydrofuran-2,3,4,5-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (FA), and 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic anhydride (BA). The anhydride reacted with e-amino groups of lysine, sulfhydryl groups, and hydroxyl groups of tyrosine, serine, and threonine. Chemically modified beef heart myofibriliar proteins were superior to native heart myofibriliar proteins in solubility, emulsifying capacity, emulsion activity, and emulsion stability in a low salt solution of 0.1M NaCl, 0.05M potassium phosphate at pH 7.4 and 6.0. Protein modified with 0.5 mmole anhydride/g protein in 0.2M NaCl had a solubility greater than unmodified proteins in 0.6M NaCl at pH 7.4. Chemical modification also altered the pH-solubility profile. The chemically modified beef heart myofibrillar proteins exhibited an emulsifying capacity at pH 6.0 and 7.4 that was greater than that of the native proteins at pH 7.4. The recommended extent of acylation for modifying beef heart myofibrils on a gram protein basis is 0.6 mmole AA, 1.5 moles SA, 0.6 mmole FA, and 0.6 mmole BA.     

Histidine deficiency has a negative effect on lactational performance of dairy cows

A 10-wk randomized complete block design experiment with 24 Holstein cows was conducted to investigate the long-term effects of feeding a His-deficient diet on lactational performance of dairy cows. Cows were blocked by days in milk, milk yield, and parity, and randomly assigned to 1 of the following 2 treatments: (1) His-adequate diet [HAD; providing +166 g/d over metabolizable protein (MP) requirements, according to the National Research Council (2001) and digestible His (dHis) supply of 68 g/d, or 2.5% of MP requirements] and (2) His-deficient diet (HDD; +37 g/d over MP requirements and dHis supply of 49 g/d, or 1.9% of MP requirements). Both HAD and HDD were supplemented with rumen-protected (RP) Met and Lys supplying digestible Met and digestible Lys at 2.4 and 2.4% and 7.2 and 7.1% of MP requirements, respectively. At the end of the 10-wk experiment, HDD was supplemented with RPHis (HDD+RPHis; total dHis supply of 61 g/d, or 2.4% of MP requirements) for an additional 9 d. Dry matter intake (DMI; 25.4 and 27.1 kg/d, standard error of the mean = 0.41), yields of milk (37.6 and 40.5 kg/d, standard error of the mean = 0.62), protein and lactose, energy-corrected milk, and milk and plasma urea-N were decreased by HDD compared with HAD. Feed and energy-corrected milk feed efficiencies, milk fat, protein and lactose concentrations, body weight, and body condition score of the cows were not affected by treatment. Apparent total-tract digestibility of dry and organic matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber, and excretion of urinary N and urea-N were decreased by HDD compared with HAD. Concentration of plasma leptin tended to be decreased for HDD compared with HAD. Plasma concentrations of EAA (His, Leu, Lys, Val) and carnosine decreased and total EAA tended to be decreased in cows fed HDD compared with HAD. Muscle concentrations of free His, Leu, and Val decreased and Gly and β-alanine tended to be increased by HDD compared with HAD. Cows fed HDD had a lower blood hemoglobin concentration than cows fed HAD. At the end of the 10-wk study, the 9-d supplementation of HDD with RPHis (i.e., HDD+RPHis) increased DMI and plasma His, and tended to increase energy-corrected milk yield and plasma carnosine, compared with HDD. In conclusion, feeding a diet deficient in dHis supplying adequate MP, digestible Met, and digestible Lys affected negatively lactational performance of dairy cows. These results confirm our previous findings that low dietary His supply can impair DMI, yields of milk and milk protein, and blood hemoglobin in dairy cows.     

羟自由基氧化对鲤鱼肌原纤维蛋白乳化性及凝胶性的影响

研究羟自由基( ·OH)氧化对鲤鱼肌原纤维蛋白乳化性、凝胶质地及凝胶微观结构的影响。采用由FeCl3、抗坏血酸浓度和不同浓度(0～20mmol/L)H2O2组成的 ·OH氧化体系,对鲤鱼肌原纤维蛋白分别氧化1、3、5h后测定蛋白的乳化活力及乳化稳定性,利用质构仪、扫描电镜对凝胶特性和微观结构进行研究。结果表明：蛋白质氧化会引起鲤鱼肌原纤维蛋白乳化性及凝胶性发生改变,表现在乳化活力和乳化稳定性下降,凝胶弹性、硬度、保水性及白度有不同程度的下降,凝胶微观结构遭到破坏。这些蛋白氧化引起的变化说明,蛋白质氧化对鲤鱼肌原纤维蛋白乳化性及凝胶性能有较大的破坏作用。     

羟自由基氧化对鲢鱼肌原纤维蛋白凝胶特性的影响

采用含不同浓度H₂O₂(0.0～10.0 mmol/L)的Fenton体系(H₂O₂-VC-FeCl₃)模拟氧化应激环境对鲢鱼肌原纤维蛋白进行氧化,测定蛋白的巯基含量,以及蛋白凝胶的凝胶强度、白度、持水性、水分分布状态及微观结构,探究氧化度对蛋白凝胶特性的影响。结果表明：随着H₂O₂浓度的增加,蛋白的总巯基含量和白度、持水性呈先升高后降低的趋势。当体系中H₂O₂浓度较低(0.1～0.5 mmol/L)时,蛋白凝胶强度增大,白度得到改善;凝胶的三维结构孔洞的面积较小,且分布较为均匀,凝胶的持水力有所增强。但是当体系中的H₂O₂浓度较高(5.0～10.0 mmol/L)时,蛋白凝胶的白度下降,凝胶结构的有序性降低,孔洞面积变大,分布变得不均匀,凝胶的持水力下降,凝胶品质发生劣变。因此,适度氧化(0.1～0.5 mmol/L H₂O...     

Timed Emulsification Studies with Chicken Breast Muscle: Soluble and Insoluble Myofibrillar Proteins

Emulsion formation with chicken breast muscle was investigated using timed emulsification. High-salt soluble proteins (pH 7.0, 0.6M NaCl) extracted from previously washed muscle (pH 7.0, 0.05M NaCl) were removed from the aqueous phase as mixing time increased. Low- and high-salt exhaustively washed muscle, resuspended in either 0.15 or 0.6M NaCl, pH 7.0, still exhibited good emulsion properties. The pellet protein decreased (> 90%) as mixing time increased from 0 to 5 min. Addition of sodium pyrophosphate to 0.6M NaCl suspensions of 0.05M NaCl washed muscle resulted in an increase in solubility of myofibrillar proteins and a general improvement in emulsification properties. High-salt insoluble proteins may play an important role in emulsion formation.     

The role of sarcoplasmic protein in hydrostatic pressure-induced myofibrillar protein denaturation

To observe the role of sarcoplasmic protein (SP) on myofibrillar protein (MP) denaturation under a hydrostatic pressure (HP), MP isolated from bovine muscle was treated with 300 MPa by increasing concentrations of SP (0, 0.8, 1.6, and 3.2 mg/ml) from bovine. SDS-PAGE patterns of soluble proteins in 0.1M NaCl (pH 7.4) indicated that a protein (about 100 kDa) from MP decreased with increasing concentrations of SP and that a 97 kDa protein from SP observed with 0.1 MPa was not observed with 300 MPa. SDS-PAGE patterns of soluble proteins in 0.6 M NaCl (pH 7.4) and Ca-ATPase activity showed that the denaturation of myosin heavy chain (MHC) was accelerated with increasing SP concentrations with the 300 MPa treatment. Thus, the addition of SP enhanced HP-induced denaturation of MHC and of a protein from MP of about 100 kDa.     

ELECTROSTATIC EFFECTS ON PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF PARTICULATE WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE GELS

Physical properties of particulate whey protein isolate gels formed under varying electrostatic conditions were investigated using large strain rheological and microstructural techniques. The two treatment ranges evaluated were adjusting pH (5.2‐5.8) with no added NaCl and adjusting the NaCl (0.2‐0.6 M) at pH 7. Gels (10% protein w/v) were formed by heating at 80C for 30 min. The large strain properties of fracture strain (γ_f), fracture stress (σ_f), and a measure of strain hardening (R_0.3) were determined using a torsion method. Gel microstructure was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and gel permeability (B_gel). Overlaying σ_f and γ_f curves for pH and NaCl treatments demonstrated an overlap where gels of equal σ_f and γ_f could be formed by adjusting pH or NaCl concentration. The high fracture stress (σ_f～ 23 kPa and γ_f～ 1.86) pair conditions were pH 5.47 and 0.25 M NaCl, pH 7.0. The low fracture stress (σ_f～ 13 kPa and γ_f～ 1.90) pair conditions were pH 5.68 and 0.6 M NaCl, pH 7.0. The 0.25 M NaCl, pH 7 treatment demonstrated higher R_0.3 values than the pH 5.47 treatment. When the sulfhydryl blocker n‐ethylmaleimide was added at 2 mM to the 0.25 M NaCl, pH 7 gel treatment, its rheological behavior was NSD (p>0.05) to the pH 5.47 gel treatment, indicating disulfide bond formation regulated strain hardening. Altering surface charge or counterions, and disulfide bonding, was required to produce gels with similar large strain rheological properties. An increase in gel permeability coincided with an increase in pore size as observed by SEM, independent of rheological properties. This demonstrated that at the length scales investigated, microstructure was not linked to changes in large strain rheological properties.     

Heat Gelation Properties and Protein Extractability of Beef Myofibrils

At a heating rate of 1^oC/min suspensions (pH 6.0) of isolated beef myofibrils were found to start forming gels at 43-56^oC, as detected by dynamic rheological measurements. The increase in gel storage modulus levelled off at temperatures > 65^oC. At medium to high (0.3-0.6M) concentrations of sodium chloride, addition of pyrophosphate (plus magnesium chloride) had the following effects: (1) both the protein extractability of non-heated myofibrils and the storage moduli of heat-induced gels were markedly increased; (2) the apparent activation energy for gel formation was decreased. Increasing concentrations of sodium chloride, up to 0.5-0.6M, increased the protein concentration of the liquid phase of the gels.     

Rheological and Microstructural Properties of Porcine Myofibrillar Protein–Lipid Emulsion Composite Gels

ABSTRACT:  The objective of the study was to investigate the role of emulsified fat (lard) and oil (peanut oil) in the rheology and microstructure of porcine myofibrillar protein (MP) gels. Heat-induced composite gels were prepared from 2% MP with 0% to 15% pre-emulsified lipids at 0.6 M NaCl, pH 6.2. Dynamic rheological testing upon temperature sweeping (20 to 80 °C at 2 °C/min) showed substantial increases in G ' (an elastic modulus) of MP sols/gels with the addition of emulsions. Gel hardness was markedly enhanced ( P < 0.05) by incorporating ≥10% emulsions, and the composite gel with 15% lard was 33% more rigid ( P < 0.05) than that with 15% peanut oil. Incorporation of both emulsions at 10% or higher levels improved the water holding capacity of the gels by 28% to 44% ( P < 0.05). Light microscopy revealed a compact gel structure filled with protein-coated fat/oil globules that interacted with the protein matrix via disulfide bonds. The results indicated that both physical and chemical forces contributed to the enhancements in the rheology, moisture retention, and lipid stabilization in the MP–emulsion composite gels.     

Microbial transglutaminase-induced structural and rheological changes of cationic and anionic myofibrillar proteins

This study investigated the effects of microbial transglutaminase (TG) on structural changes in porcine myofibrillar protein (MP) under varying pH (2.0–6.0) and two ionic strength conditions (0.1 M versus 0.6 M NaCl). Lowering the pH below the isoelectric point (pI) of myosin induced protein unfolding as revealed by surface hydrophobicity and differential scanning calorimetry. Although the MP solubility at the low ionic strength (0.1 M NaCl) was maximal at pH 3.0, both SDS-PAGE profiles and dynamic rheology indicated TG could not cross-link MP under this condition. Based on the carboxyl group content, the TG-catalyzed deamidation was dominant at a pH lower than the pI of myosin (pH 5.0) while cross-linking occurred at higher pH. Moreover, deamidation had no effect on rheological properties of MP. The results indicate that the TG reaction was governed by the pH of substrate protein, and the reaction intensity was related to the solubility of protein.     

基于人体必需金属盐替代的低钠盐肌原纤维蛋白凝胶特性和作用机理

为降低肌原纤维蛋白凝胶中钠盐的使用量,研究不同氯盐(CaCl₂、MgCl₂、KCl)部分替代NaCl对肌原纤维蛋白凝胶性质包括强度、微观结构、持水力和流变学性质的影响,并通过十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳、内源性荧光光谱、表面疏水性、巯基含量等技术手段阐明其作用机理。结果表明,3种氯盐替代效果排序为KCl>CaCl₂>MgCl₂。0.5%～1.5%质量分数的盐替代范围内,KCl替代组的凝胶强度优于对照组(3%NaCl),持水力与对照组相比无显著差异(P>0.05);Ca Cl₂替代组的凝胶强度在1.5%替代质量分数时显著下降(P<0.05),持水力呈先下降后上升趋势;MgCl₂替代组凝胶强度显著降低(P<0.05),持水力上升。在流变学性质方面,不同质量分数KCl替代组的储能模量明显高于对照组。CaCl₂和MgCl₂的替代使肌原纤维蛋白表面疏水性增大、巯基含量减少,3种氯盐的替代...     

Heat-induced Gelation of Chicken Gizzard Myosin

Chicken gizzard myosin solution formed a gel when heated above 40°C. The rigidity of the gel was constant above 65°C. Maximum pH for gel formation was 5.9 at 0.6M and 5.7 at 0.15M KCl. Higher rigidity of the myosin gel was observed at low ionic strength than at high ionic strength. Rigidities of myosin at 0.6M KCl increased by (mg/mL)^2.5 and at 0.15M (mg/mL)^{1, 4} myosin concentration. The strength of gizzard myosin gels was comparable to that of myosin gels from chicken breast muscle under similar conditions.