Volume 49, Issue No. 4

DNA Quality and Integrity of Nuclear and Mitochondrial Sequences from Beef Meat as Affected by Different Cooking Methods

Mauro Musto*

Metapontum Agrobios S.r.l., S.S. Jonica 106, Km 448.2, Metaponto (MT), IT-75010 Italy

Article history:
Received February 22, 2010
Accepted October 1, 2010

Key words:
beef, cooking method, DNA, species identification, PCR

Summary:
The extraction of high quality DNA from processed meat can often represent the crucial step in an authentication process by PCR-based methods. In this study, the effect of three different domestic cooking methods (roasting, boiling, and microwave) on DNA isolated from two beef muscles has been investigated. The quality of extracted DNA was evaluated by amplifying target sequences from mitochondrial and nuclear genes, as well as by monitoring the yield, purity, and degradation of the extracted DNA. Large PCR fragments (length >900 bp) were successfully amplified from both genes in all samples. The cooking methods caused significant differences in terms of quality and quantity of DNA recovered from meat.

*Corresponding author:    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Use of Proteomic Methodology in Optimization of Processing and Quality Control of Food of Animal Origin

Dajana Gašo-Sokač^1,2, Spomenka Kovač^1,2 and Djuro Josić^3,4*

¹Department of Chemistry, University J. J. Strossmayer, Kuha~eva 20, HR-31000 Osijek, Croatia
²Faculty of Food Technology, University J. J. Strossmayer, Kuha~eva 20, HR-31000 Osijek, Croatia
³Proteomics Core, COBRE CCRD and Brown University, CORO WEST, One Hoppin street, Providence, RI 02903, USA
⁴Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, Trg braće Mažuranića 10, HR-51000 Rijeka, Croatia

Article history:
Received May 25, 2010
Accepted March 10, 2011

Key words:
proteomics, processing, quality control, food of animal origin

Summary:
Food of animal origin, namely meat, seafood, milk and milk products, is the main protein source in human nutrition. These types of food are very complex mixtures that contain proteins and other components, and proteomic techniques enable simultaneous study of several hundred up to several thousand proteins. The use of proteomic methodology for quality control and quality assessment in production as well as for the optimization and development of new manufacturing processes is presented. Newly developed, faster and more selective methods for sample preparation followed by more sensitive mass spectrometry for identification of less abundant proteins are discussed. These techniques will help to understand variations in production, and to find markers for food quality criteria. Furthermore, biologically active peptides in food of animal origin have recently been the focus of proteomic and peptidomic investigations. Isolation and production of biologically active proteins and peptides, including the low abundance ones, will also be a focus of future research. The use of proteomics, peptidomics and metabonomics for the determination of product quality and the detection of adulterations in meat production, seafood identification and in the production of milk and milk products is also discussed.

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Ractopamine and Clenbuterol Urinary Residues in Pigs as Food-Producing Animals

Jelka Pleadin¹*, Ana Vulić¹, Nina Perši¹, Dinka Milić² and Nada Vahčić<sup>3

1</sup>Laboratory for Analytical Chemistry, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska 143, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
²Dubravica Swine Farm, Ltd., Pavla Štoosa 109, HR-10293 Dubravica, Croatia
³Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Article history:
Received January 17, 2011
Accepted April 21, 2011

Key words:
ractopamine, clenbuterol, ELISA, pig, urine

Summary:
The aim of the study is to determine residual ractopamine (RCT) and clenbuterol (CLB) concentrations in urine during and after their administration in anabolic dose to male pigs. RCT and CLB residues were determined using previously validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a quantitative screening method. Hydrolysis of urine samples with β-glucuronidase showed significantly higher (p<0.05) RCT residues. Study results showed RCT and CLB urine concentrations to vary greatly during oral treatment for 28 days, with maximal RCT and CLB concentration recorded on day 25 ((327.4±161.0) ng/mL) and day 20 ((68.4±32.2) ng/mL), respectively. RCT concentration of (57.1±10.6) ng/mL and CLB concentration of (38.8±20.1) ng/mL were measured on day 0 of treatment  withdrawal; on day 7 of treatment withdrawal, the measured concentration of RCT ((5.0±0.9) ng/mL) was 20-fold of CLB concentration ((0.3±0.2) ng/mL). Study results indicate that the excretion of RCT and CLB in pig urine could clearly point to their abuse in pigs as food-producing animals, in particular when using sample hydrolysis with β-glucuronidase on RCT determination.

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