@article{LI2025, 
author = {Longfei LI and Shuhong LI and Dengfan QIAN and Yuwei JIANG and Haonan TONG and Xiaofei LI and Shuimeng BAI and Ying ZHANG and Ran LI},
title = {Effect of Silver Carp Cystatin C on the Texture and Mitochondrial Pathway-Mediated Apoptosis of Refrigerated Grass Carp Fillets},
year = {2025},
journal = {Food Science},
volume = {46},
number = {15},
pages = {145-154},
keywords = {texture characteristics, cystatin C of silver carp, refrigerated grass carp fillets, mitochondrial pathway-mediated apoptosis, caspases},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.7506/spkx1002-6630-20250306-041},
doi = {10.7506/spkx1002-6630-20250306-041},
abstract = {With the aim of understanding the mechanism of action of cystatin C of silver carp (HmCystatin C) as a potential natural biological preservative, we investigated the effect of HmCystatin C on maintaining the texture quality of refrigerated fish fillets and the regulatory effect on myocyte apoptosis mediated by mitochondrial pathway. Western blot was used to  verify the cellular permeability of HmCystatin C in grass carp fillets. Quality changes during refrigeration for 72 h at 4 ℃ were monitored with respect to texture, histological characteristics, cathepsin B/L activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Myocyte apoptosis, the opening degree of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP), mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial morphological damage were detected by immunohistochemistry, TUNEL staining, spectrophotometry, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Meanwhile, the activities and protein expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were analyzed by fluorescence assay and Western blot, respectively. The results demonstrated that  HmCystatin C effectively penetrated into and persistently existed in cells. Compared with the control group, shear force and hardness obviously increased in the Cys treated group, gaps between myocytes, cathepsin B/L activity and ROS levels decreased, and texture deterioration was postponed by at least 24 h. Additionally, the damage degree of mitochondrial function and morphology was suppressed significantly in the Cys group. Meanwhile, the activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were inhibited to different extents and the protein expression levels were lower than that in the control group. In conclusion, the inhibition of mitochondrial pathway-mediated apoptosis and relevant caspases activities by HmCystatin C might contribute to its effect on delaying the quality deterioration of refrigerated grass carp fillets.}
}