Effects of High Pressure on Myofibrillar Protein and Moisture Distribution of Shrimp (Solenocera melantho) Muscle

The effects of high pressure (100–500 MPa) treatment on myofibrillar protein (MP) contents and distribution of water in Solenocera melantho muscle were investigated. The results showed that the shrimp treated with 200 MPa had the highest shelling score, and the solubility of MP in meat of shrimp treated with 300 MPa was significantly reduced. Moreover, the surface hydrophobicity of MP increased with increasing pressure. Treatment of shrimp with 200–300 MPa high pressure partially converted the structure of MP from an α-helix structure to a β-sheet structure, allowing for greater exposure of the tryptophan residues present. Treatment of shrimp with 100–200 MPa led to a significant loss in the amount of immobilized water in shrimp muscle. However, the treatment did not significantly change the moisture distribution. Overall, pressures of 100 to 200 MPa are considered the most suitable for the processing of S. melantho.