ATP and Creatine Phosphate Breakdown in Spiked Plaice Muscle during Storage, and Activities of Some Enzymes Involved

Abstract

ABSTRACT The onset of rigor‐mortis of plaice Puralichthys olivaceus spiked at the brain started much faster at 0°C than at 10°C. Correspondingly, ATP and creatine phosphate breakdown and lactic acid accumulation in the muscle were faster at 0°C. ATP concentration was constant at 5 μmol/g until creatine phosphate decreased from the initial conccntration at around 20 μmol/g to 5 μmol/g, irrespective of storage temperature. Simultaneously, lactic acid accumulated, slowly at first, until ATP concentration started decreasing, and then quickly accompanying the full‐rigor state. Activities of the enzymes involved in ATP and creatine phosphate consumption‐myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic AT‐Pases and creatine kinase‐were temperature‐dependent, and decreased with decrease in temperature.