title: Mitochondrial abundance and efficiency contribute to lean color of dark cutting beef.
abstract: Beef carcasses exhibiting four levels of dark cutting severity (DCS): Severe, Moderate, Mild, and Shady were compared to Control carcasses to investigate biochemical traits contributing to the dark cutting condition. Color attributes of Longissimus lumborum (LL) were measured after grading and during simulated retail display. Mitochondrial abundance and efficiency, bloomed oxymyoglobin, reducing ability, glycolytic potential, myoglobin concentration, and protein solubility and oxidation were determined. Glycolytic potential and lactate concentrations decreased (P<0.05) as DCS increased. Residual glycogen was greater (P<0.05) in steaks from Control carcasses compared to DCS classes. Generally, as DCS increased, LL steaks were darker and less red in color (P<0.05). Increased (P<0.05) oxygen consumption and reducing ability coincided with greater myoglobin concentration and greater abundance of less efficient mitochondria as DCS increased (P<0.05). These data suggest the dark cutting condition is associated with greater oxidative metabolism coupled with less efficient mitochondria resulting in depletion of glycogen during stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843-2471, United States.
authors.forename: Russell O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: McKeith
authors.affiliation: USDA-ARS, Roman L. Hruska US Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE 68933, United States. Electronic address: andy.king@ars.gov.
authors.forename: D Andy
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843-2471, United States.
authors.forename: Adria L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Grayson
authors.affiliation: USDA-ARS, Roman L. Hruska US Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE 68933, United States.
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Shackelford
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843-2471, United States.
authors.forename: Kerri B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Gehring
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843-2471, United States.
authors.forename: Jeffrey W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Savell
authors.affiliation: USDA-ARS, Roman L. Hruska US Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE 68933, United States.
authors.forename: Tommy L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Wheeler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003116:Color; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008928:Mitochondria; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal; D000069466:Red Meat / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D006003:Glycogen
keywords: Color; Color stability; Dark cutting beef; Electron transport; Mitochondria