EFFECT OF TRITON X-100 TREATMENT ON THE LIPID-COMPOSITION, BIOCHEMICAL AND FUNCTIONAL-PROPERTIES OF HAKE (MERLUCCIUS-HUBBSI) MYOFIBRILS PURIFIED FROM PRESPAWNED AND POSTSPAWNED FISH

1. The effects of Triton X-100 treatment on the lipid contents and fun ctional properties of hake myofibrils from pre- and post-spawned fish were investigated. 2. Differences in lipids, biochemical and functiona l properties of hake myofibrils related to the gonadal condition of fi sh were observed. 3. Triton X-100 treatment removed 65% of polar lipid s in myofibrils from pre-spawned fish and only 10% in myofibrils from post-spawned fish. 4. Triton X-100 increased the Hill coefficient to 1 .5 in an allosteric type of reaction for the myofibrillar Mg2+-ATPase from pre-spawned hake. 5. The detergent effect observed on the contrac tion response was greater in myofibrils from pre-spawned fish than in post-spawned fish.