Solubilization of Myofibrils and Inhibition of Autolysis of Squid Mantle Muscle by Sodium Citrate

  The effects of organic salts (sodium (Na)‐citrate, Na‐gluconate, and Na‐succinate) on the solubilization of myofibrillar proteins and the inhibition of autolysis of squid mantle muscle were investigated. All of the organic compounds dissolved myofibrils as NaCl did. Na‐citrate showed the strongest ability with half dissolving at 0.06 M. Half dissolving by Na‐gluconate, Na‐succinate, and NaCl were 0.27, 0.21, and 0.27 M, respectively. Dissolving myofibrils by Na‐citrate was not accompanied by the acceleration of autolysis. Na‐citrate above 0.25 M almost completely inhibited the autolysis. The inhibition of autolysis by Na‐gluconate and Na‐succinate was much less than that of Na‐citrate. Consequently, it was concluded that Na‐citrate was the organic salt to dissolve squid myofibrils without inducing autolysis.