AUTOLYSIS OF SQUID MANTLE MUSCLE PROTEIN AS AFFECTED BY STORAGE-CONDITIONS AND INHIBITORS

Autolysis of squid mantle muscle was investigated under various condit ions using muscle homogenate as a model system. Cleavage of myosin int o heavy and light meromyosin was prominent during autolysis. Storage c onditions such as NaCl concentration and temperature affected not only the rate of autolysis but also the products Conditions for maximal au tolysis were: NaCl concentration 0.3M, pH 7 and temperature 40-degrees -C. Autolysis was well inhibited by ethylenediaminetetra acetic acid a nd Na-pyrophosphate at < 25-degrees-C and by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluo ride and chymotrypsin inhibitor extracted from potato tuber at > 35-de grees-C suggesting two different types of proteinases were involved.