POSTMORTEM BIOCHEMICAL-CHANGES IN MUSCLE OF BUCCINUM-STRIATISSIMUM DURING STORAGE

The changes in content of ATP and its related compounds, free amino ac ids, organic acids and opines were investigated in the muscle of B. st riatissimum during storage at 0 degrees C and 5 degrees C. Immediately after shelling, the total amount of ATP and its related compounds wer e 2.8 mu mol/g. ATP, ADP and AMP accounted for 98% of the total ATP an d its related compounds. ATP reached the highest level on the Ist day at 0 degrees C, then decreased slowly. ATP degraded faster at 0 degree s C than at 5 degrees C. AMP was decomposed to inosine through both pa thways, since IMP and adenosine were detected. Hypoxanthine, xanthine and uric acid increased with the decrease of ATP. Immediately after sh elling, the total amount of free amino acids in the muscle were 1,719 mg/ 100 g. Taurine, arginine, proline, alanine, glutamic acid and glyc ine were major free amino acids and accounted for 87% of the total amo unt of free amino acids. Acetic acid increased rapidly during storage, but octopine and alanopine increased slowly.