Decorin and fibromodulin expression in two bovine muscles (M-semitendinosus and M-psoas major) differing in texture

Biochemical composition of muscle is an important factor that affects meat quality. Studies have revealed that the collagen content alone cannot be co nsidered a reliable parameter for textural properties. This study focuses o n the expression of two collagen interacting proteoglycans, decorin and fib romodulin, in two muscles differing in texture, M. semitendinosus (ST) and M. psoas major (PM). The difference in texture was confirmed by Warner Brat zler shear force measurements. The proteoglycan expression level was determ ined both on protein and mRNA level by SDS-gel electrophoresis and Northern blots, and related to the collagen expression. The tougher muscle, ST cont ained more decorin than the tender muscle PM, but less decorin per collagen . However, the difference in fibromodulin level per collagen was not signif icant between the two muscles, indicating that decorin is a better paramete r to study in relation to textural properties in bovine muscle.