THE ROLE OF GLUTATHIONE PEROXIDASE IN MAINTAINING FLESH QUALITY IN FARMED SOUTHERN BLUEFIN TUNA (THUNNUS MACCOYII)

摘要

In mammals, glutathione peroxidase (GPX) is a key enzyme in the cell's anti-oxidant defence system but comparatively little is known about this enzyme in fish. During storage of meat and fish products post-harvest, the cell's anti-oxidant defence system gradually deteriorates and the flesh eventually goes rancid. In diet trials with farmed Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT), we have observed that muscle samples from fish fed high concentrations of antioxidants (Vitamin C, Vitamin E, selenium) maintain theirGPX enzyme activity for longer (J.L. Thompson, P.M. Thomas and K.A. Schuller, unpublished). This led us to carry out a thorough investigation of the GPX enzyme(s) from SBT. Here we report on the purification of a GPX enzyme from SBT liver tissue.