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Pacific whiting and its by-products were good raw materials for high quality fish sauce production. Heat stable and salt activated enzymes were responsible for autolytic activity in Pacific whiting and by-products. According to temperature profiles of raw materials at various salt concentrations, two fermentation temperatures, 35°C and 50°C, were selected and compared at 25% salt under static atmospheric condition. Higher yields and faster production rate were obtained from samples incubated at 50°C. Therefore, the apparent optimum condition for fish sauce fermentation using Pacific whiting and its by-products was at 50°C with 25% salt under static atmospheric condition. All physicochemical characteristics, except color and browning color, reached the level of commercial fish sauce within 20 days. Nitrogen contents in all samples reached the level of commercial fish sauce (16.3 g-N/mL) within 112 days. Predominant microorganisms found during fermentation were Staphylococcus, Bacillus and Micrococcus. Alpha-amino acid content appeared to be identified as a good parameter to estimate total nitrogen content during fermentation (adjusted R²=0.84). Soluble solid was a good index for protein degradation in fermentation (adjusted R²=0.71). Proteolytic activity in Pacific whiting and its by-products were investigated using hemoglobin as substrate. Specific substrates and specific inhibitors were also used to classify the types of enzymes responsible for protein degradation in fish sauce fermentation. Serine proteases, cathepsin L-like enzymes and metalloproteases were active at 50°C in whole fish. However, trypsin-like enzymes, and cathepsin L-like enzymes were responsible for protein degradation in by-products at 50°C. At 35°, whole fish was degraded by serine proteases, cathepsin B-like enzymes, trypsin-like enzymes, and metalloproteases. Cysteine proteases were mainly responsible for the degradation of proteins in by-products, and serine proteases and trypsin-like enzymes had a minor role in hydrolyzing of by-products during fermentation. / Graduation date: 2000

Kinetic properties of the two proteases, causing textural degradation of Pacific whiting (Merluccius productus) during heating, were compared and characterized with the synthetic substrate, Z-Phe-Arg-NMec. Pacific whiting P-I and P-II showed the highest specificity on Z-Phe-Arg-NMec, specific substrate for cathepsin L. The K [subscript m] of preactivated P-I and P-II were 62.98 and 76.02 (μM), and k [subscript cat], 2.38 and 1.34 (s⁻¹) against Z-Phe-Arg-NMec at pH 7.0 and 30°C, respectively. Optimum pH stability for preactivated P-I and P-II is between 4.5 and 5.5. Both enzymes showed similar pH-induced preactivation profiles at 30°C. The maximal activity for both enzymes was obtained by preactivating the enzyme at a range of pH 5.5 to 7.5. The highest activation rate for both enzymes was determined at pH 7.5. At pH 5.5, the rate to reach the maximal activity was the slowest, but the activity was stable up to 1 hr. P-I and P-II shared similar temperature profiles at pH 5.5 and pH 7.0 studied. Optimum temperatures at pH 5.5 and 7.0 for both proteases on the same substrate were 55°C. Significant thermal inactivation for both enzymes was shown at 75°C. Preactivated P-I and P-II displayed a similar first order thermal inactivation profile at pH 7.0. At 30 and 90°C, half lives, t [subscript 1/2], for Pacific whiting P-I were 49.50 and 0.20 min and for P-II, 32.54 and 0.18 min, respectively. The rate constant of inactivation for both proteases increased about 200-fold between two limits, 30 and 90°C. Half lives at 55°C, optimum temperature, for P-I and P-II were also determined to be 5.29 and 6.75 min. The increase in thermal inactivation rate constants independent of substrates corresponded to an activation energy for heat denaturation of 21.18 kcal/mol for P-I and 19.97 kcal/mol for P-II by Arrhenius plot. These similar kinetic properties, i.e., kinetic parameters, pH profile and thermal inactivation rate constant, suggested that Pacific whiting P-I and P-II are the same enzyme. / Graduation date: 1994

Pacific whiting (Merluccius productus) is the most abundant groundfish species off the California, Oregon and Washington Coasts. The fish are mainly used as a raw material for the production of surimi. However, it is not economically wise to depend only on one product. There is a need to diversify the industry and develop a portfolio of product forms able to compete on the global marketplace. This study examines the characteristics of Pacific whiting individually quick frozen (IQF) fillets through an evaluation of consumer acceptability and sensory analysis, as well as their correlations to biochemical and physical properties. Additionally, a comparison is made between Pacific whiting IQF fillets and characteristics from seven other fish species. Sensory analysis by a trained panel showed Pacific whiting scoring highest in the flavor category of shellfish, medium in overall flavor intensity and fresh fish flavor, and high in moistness. Two different cooking methods: microwave (rapid) and conventional oven (slow) were studied with the results showing that the rapid method improved a number of texture attributes. Correlations between sensory texture attributes and instrumental texture results of Pacific whiting and the protease activity were found for both cooking methods but much higher in the slow one. All eight species were tested in a consumer test using a nine-point Hedonic scale. There were no significance differences (p>0.05) in flavor, texture, and overall acceptance of Pacific whiting with most of other commercial fish. However, the amount of variation in each group was high. No significant differences were found in firmness of Pacific whiting when compared to Dover sole. Five-point purchase intent scale showed no differences in consumers' willingness-to-buy when compared to species presently available in the marketplace. Pacific whiting IQF fillets, kept in frozen storage for 12 months, showed no differences in the flavor and texture attributes with fillets frozen for one month. The following findings are based on the information gained from the focus group: (1) The most important factor affecting consumers' purchasing decision on fish is flavor, (2) Fish flavor must be fresh, mild, pleasant, and true to species, and (3) Fish texture is varied. Texture is not as important as such factors as flavor, odor, appearance, and thickness of fillets. Pacific whiting was found to be tasty and acceptable to the focus group participants. Qualitative and quantitative data collected from the focus group and the consumer tests, combined with its sensory characteristics' similarity to desirable commercial fish suggest a good potential of Pacific whiting in being utilized as IQF fillets. / Graduation date: 1997

The effect of salt (0, 0.9, 1.7, 2.5%) and pH (range 4 to 10) on surimi gels made from Pacific Whiting (Merluccius productus) was investigated. Gel-forming ability was measured by the torsion test. In general, surimi gels increased in gel strength with increased pH. Breaking shear stress increased to a greater degree than breaking shear strain above pH 7.0. The increase in gel strength was greater at higher pHs for gels made without salt than those made with salt. At neutral pH, the salted surimi showed greater gel forming abilities than the unsalted whiting surimi. Poor gels were formed at low pH (pH 4 to 6) for both the salted and no-salt surimi. These results demonstrated that pH and salt concentration had an interactive effect on the gel-forming ability of the Pacific whiting surimi and that improved gel strength at low salt levels might be obtained by increasing the pH. / Graduation date: 1993

In surimi manufacturing, less than 25% of the total weight of the fish is utilized. This research focused on meat recovery from fish frames, the residual portion of the fish after filleting headed and gutted fish. A new technology, the water jet deboning (WJD) system, was tested. The WJD system uses oscillating high pressure water jet nozzles to recover edible flesh from the frames without breaking the kidney located under the backbone. To evaluate the function of added salt on dewatering and process recovery, the WJD was operated without NaCl (WJD1) and with 0.2% NaCl added to the discharge slurry (WJD2). In conventional mechanical deboning process (MD), which was the other deboning system applied in the study, no salt was used. The recovered frame meat was further processed to surimi and then stored at -18��C. Meat recovery and surimi processing yields were compared between the three meat recovery processes. Functional properties of gels (texture and color) were evaluated after 1 and 6 mo frozen storage and compared to commercially manufactured surimi, which served as a control. As a result of manual trimming, the maximally recoverable meat from the frames was 42.8% of frame weight. MD showed the highest mince yield (mince prior to cryoprotectant addition), 24% of frame weight, while the two WJD methods resulted in only 5% yield. Color and shear strain for gels from WJD1, MD surimi and mixtures of those and control (10-20% frame mince surimi/80-90% control), were comparable to control. Gels from WJD2 showed significantly lower lightness (L*) but did not differ otherwise. Shear stress values of all frame meat surimi gels and the gels from mixtures of those and the control were significantly lower than the control. This low shear stress is probably due to a difference in processing equipment and processing conditions between the lab scale and the commercial scale. Due to the promising processing yield for the MD system an additional study was performed where effects of kidney and kidney blood contamination in the frame mince were investigated. Pacific whiting frames were mechanically deboned with/without kidney and the frame mince further processed into surimi. Functional properties of gels (texture and color) were evaluated after 1 and 6 mo frozen storage and compared to commercially manufactured surimi, which served as a control. At 1, 2, 4, and 6 mo, salt extractable proteins (SEP) concentration, dimethylamine (DMA) formation and pH were measured to monitor protein denaturation. Removing the kidney and washing the frames prior to MD resulted in higher gel strength after 1 and 6 mo frozen storage. / Graduation date: 2000

The major portion of Pacific whiting (PW) is commercialized in the form of frozen surimi. Alternative products for PW were investigated focusing on fresh surimi and texturized meat from PW mince. Fresh surimi is made without additives and kept refrigerated instead of frozen. Texturized meat is a meat-like product made from PW mince through freeze-texturization. Fresh surimi was stored at 5°C and analyzed for its total aerobic plate count (APC), shear stress, shear strain, and color during 7 days storage. Frozen surimi from PW was prepared with 0, 3, 6, and 9% cryoprotectants and was compared with fresh surimi for its gel forming ability. Fresh surimi had a shelf life of 5 days and the gel forming ability remained unchanged throughout storage time. Shear strain of fresh surimi was not different from frozen surimi with 9% cryoprotectants but shear stress was almost 3 times higher than the frozen one. Texturized meat from PW mince was prepared from unwashed or 1-washed mince kept frozen for 6-8 mo with or without the addition of 6% cryoprotectants. The minces were comminuted into a protein slurry, formed into patties, and frozen at -7, -18, and -50°C. The evaluations of ice formation (by microscopic study), hardness, cook loss, color, and water holding capacity were carried out during 20 days storage. The results showed that texturized meat with parallel layers was made from 1-washed PW mince. Unwashed PW mince created a sponge-like texture and had rapid quality deterioration, thus it is not recommended for this product. Cryoprotectants did not significantly affect the texture formation of the product and are not required to store mince as raw material for the texturized meat. The optimum freeze-texturized temperature for this product was -18°C or lower because it minimized quality changes during storage depending on the desirable texture. The lower the temperature (higher freezing rate), the finer the layers created. / Graduation date: 1996

Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Cape hake (Merluccius capensis and M. paradoxus) is commercially the most important trawl-caught fish off the South African, coastline and due to current intensive fish processing procedures Cape hake contributes the most to the total fishwaste production. Besides its commercial importance fish is also regarded as one of the single most important consumable natural resources, either in the raw or frozen form. Most of South Africa's commercially trawled demersal fish has already been partially cleaned (i.e. headed and gutted) before landing with non-marketable bycatch and hake-waste normally disposed of as discards, resulting in a waste of a potential protein source. This study was thus aimed at fulfilling several objectives namely: observing the current large-scale commercial Cape hake harvesting procedure; constructing prediction models for several morphological parameters (whole hake mass, headed & gutted hake mass, hake head mass, hake head length, hake head breadth and hake head height) of Cape hake (Merluccius ssp.), using whole hake length as the independent variable; and determining the chemical composition (moisture, protein, fat, ash, macro and trace elements) of several hake head sections (clean head, neck flesh, tongue, tongue cartilage, jaw, gills, heart, intestines, gut, kidney, kidney & kidney bone and gut & gall); determining the effect that storage has on the fatty acid profile of both the clean head and neck flesh sections. The results obtained would supply necessary data required for techno-economic investigations in the use of hake heads. For each of the six prediction models constructed, there was an increase in the variance of the data points of categories 3 (64-80 cm) and 4 (>80 cm) as opposed to categories 1 (30-46 cm) and 2 (47-63 cm). This could be attributed to a smaller sample set for both categories 3 and 4 or due to an expected increase in the variance when investigating larger biological samples. There was also a clustering of data in the three areas for each prediction model namely, within category 1 and across categories 2 and 3 and 3 and 4. This emphasised the latitudinal stratification of the Cape hake population by age, hence their stratification by size. The prediction models constructed for both boat trips 2 and 3 differed significantly (p<0.01) from that of boat trip 1, with the exception of the hake head length (cm) prediction model. The constructed prediction models, for each of the three respective boat trips, showed good predictive abilities as was indicated by the low Mean Square Error (MSE) values for the test sets, and high Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) values. These prediction models can be used in the fishing industry with confidence for Cape hake within the time frame each respective boat trip was carried out. The neck flesh could be regarded as the most important concerning chemical composition whereas the jaw could be seen as the most important when one considers mineral content. This therefore means that the jaw section, once appropriately processed is a potential Ca, Na and Fe source for supplementing diets of people suffering from a Ca, Na or Fe deficient diet. With regard to chemical status the neck flesh section is seen as a good potential source of both protein and fat, which could be attributed to the fact that hake muscle constitutes a major portion of this section. This section could thus be used to supplement the protein and fat of an existing food product, which is protein and fat deficient for people suffering from a protein and fat deficient diet. Similarly, a market could be created for the production of an economical food product with the neck flesh section being the main ingredient. Once this have been accomplished, fishing vessels may be persuaded to retain their Cape hake fish-waste for further processing due to the value of the prepared food products and thereby maintain profitability while abiding to governmental law. In conclusion non-government scientists should have more input in the decision-making process concerning matters affecting South Africa's marine biodiversity in order for future key policy and legislation drafts to be effective. Improvement of current fish preservation techniques and the known chemical composition of currently discarded material will result in informed decisions of future matters concerning its disposal. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kaapse stokvis (Merluccius capensis en M. paradoxus) is kommersieel Suid-Afrika se belangrikste vis spesie. Aangesien die Suid-Afrikaanse visprosesseringsbedryf baie intensief is, dra die Kaapse stokvis verwerkingsindustrie die grootste gedeelte by tot die totale visafval produksie. Die meeste van Suid-Afrika se visvangste word gedeeltelik skoongemaak voor landing terwyl nie-kommersiële byvangste en visafval gewoonlik oorboord gegooi word tydens die vangproses. Dit lei tot die vermorsing van 'n potensïele proteïen bron. Hierdie studie was dus gemik om: die huidige grootskaalse kommersiële Kaapse stokvis visvangsproses waar te neem; voorspellingsmodelle vir verskeie morfologiese parameters (heel vis massa, vis massa sonder kop en binnedele, stokvis kop massa, stokvis kop lengte, stokvis kop breedte en stokvis kop hoogte) vir Kaapse stokvis (Merluccius ssp.) te ontwikkel deur die hele lengte van die vis te gebruik as die onafhanklike veranderlike; die chemiese samestelling (vog, proteïen, vet, as, makro en spoor elemente) van verskillende dele van die viskop (skoonkop, nekweefsel, tong, tong kraakbeen, kaak, kiewe, hart, ingewand, derm, nier, nier & nierbeen en derm & gal); sowel as die effek van opberging op die vetsuurprofiel van beide die skoonkop en nekweefsel dele van die Kaapse stokvis kop. Hierdie resultate sal dan gebruik word vir die tegnies-ekonomies ondersoek in die gebruik van Kaapse stokvis koppe. Vir elk van die ses voorspellingsmodelle ontwikkel, was daar 'n vermeerdering in die variansie van die datapunte vir kategorieë 3 (64-80 cm) en 4 (>80 cm) teenoor kategorieë 1 (30-46 cm) en 2 (47-63 cm). Dit kan moontlik wees as gevolg van die kleiner monster trekking vir beide kategorieë 3 en 4 of as gevolg van verwagte toename in variansie wanneer groter biologiese monsters ondersoek word. Daar was ook 'n groepering van data in drie plekke vir elke voorspellingsmodel naamlik; binne in kategorieë 1 en oor kategorieë 2 en 3 en 3 en 4. Dit beklemtoon die geografiese breedte van die Kaapse stokvis populasie op grond van ouderdom, en dus die geografiese breedte op grond van grootte. Die voorspellingsmodelle ontwikkel vir beide die tweede en derde bootvangs het betekenisvol verskil (p<0.01) van die eerste bootvangs, behalwe die vir die stokvis kop lengte (cm) voorspellingsmodel. Die voorspellingsmodelle vir elk van die bootvangste het goeie voorspellingsvermoë getoon wat bewys is deur die lae Gemiddelde Kwadraat Fout waardes vir toetsgroepe en hoë Pearson's korrelasie koeffisiënt (r) waardes. Hierdie voorspellingsmodelle wat ontwikkel is, kan dus met vertroue in die Kaapse stokvis visvangsbedryf gebruik word mits dit ooreenstem met die periode waarin elke bootvangs uitgevoer was. Die nekweefsel gedeelte is die mees belangrikste met betrekking tot chemiese samestelling en die kaak die belangrikste in terme van minerale samestelling van die verskeie viskop dele. Die kaak is dus, as dit voldoende geprosesseer word, 'n goeie potensïele bron van Ca, Na en Fe en kan dus gebruik word om die dieet van mense wat 'n gebrek het aan hierdie minerale aan te vul. Met betrekking tot die chemiese samestelling van die nekweefsel gedeelte kan dit beskou word as 'n goeie potensiële bron van beide proteïen en vet, wat toegeskryf kan word aan die feit dat spierweefsel 'n groot deel uitmaak van hierdie viskop gedeelte. Hierdie viskop gedeelte sal dus uitstekend wees om die proteïen- en vetinhoud van 'n voedselproduk wat van nature 'n lae proteïen- en vetinhoud het te verhoog en hierdie produk sou dan geteiken word op daardie gedeelte van die gemeenskap wat 'n proteïen en vet tekort in hul dieet het. As dit eers alles in plek is, dan sal die visvangs bedryf hul Kaapse stokvis afval behou vir verdere prosessering deurdat dit gebruik word om die voedingsinhoud van bestaande voedsel soorte sal verbeter en terselfdertyd sal hulle aan wetgewing voldoen. Gevolglik sal nie-regerings navorsers meer betrokke moet wees by die besluitnemingsproses met betrekking tot sake wat die Suid-Afrikaanse mariene lewe affekteer en wat toekomstige wetgewing meer effektief sal maak. Die verbetering van huidige vis preserveringstegnieke gepaardgaande met die kennis van die chemiese samestelling van die Kaapse stokvis koppe sal lei na beter toekomstige besluite oor die afset daarvan.

The abundance and low fat content of Pacific whiting support Its use for the production of surimi. The degradation of muscle proteins by myxosporidian secreted proteinase(s) has been associated with its soft texture. High residual activity is retained through the washing process used in the production of surimi and precludes the formation of a strong heat-set gel by surimi sols. Physical, chemical and SDS-PAGE analysis defined the reinforced oxidation of free sulfhydryl groups on myofibrillar proteins to disulfide bonds by potassium bromate. SDS-PAGE demonstrated myosin degradation during heat-setting and the protection of myosin from protelnase attack by bromate. A level of 0.075% bromate Inactivated 89.87% of the total proteinase activity in sols. It was assumed that cysteine proteinases were Inactivated and residual activity was associated with proteinases with a serine active site. Major iraprovement in gel coheslveness and elasticity was observed at bromate levels [less than or equal to] 0.075% with only a slight improvement at higher levels. Maximum hardness was observed at 0.150% with no (P>0.050) increase at higher levels. Brittleness was improved (P>0.050) by bromate levels [greater than or equal to] 0.100%; no maximum degree of brittleness was observed within the range ([less than or equal to] 0.250%) of concentrations investigated. An optimum folding test grade of AA was achieved by a minimum of 0.150% Potassium bromate improved gelling characteristics of sols of Pacific whiting surimi through proteinase inactivation and reinforced disulfide formation during heat-setting. Improvement in cohesiveness and elasticity was primarily a function of proteinase inactivation. Maximum hardness and brittleness required additional oxidative capacity which was not fully required for an optimum folding test grade. / Graduation date: 1989

Cathepsin B was the most active cysteine proteinase in the Pacific whiting (Merluccius productus) fish fillet, and cathepsin L in surimi when the activities of the most active cysteine proteinases (cathepsin L, B, and H) were compared. Cathepsin L showed maximum activity at 55°C in both fish fillet and surimi, indicating its function in myosin degradation during conventional cooking of fish fillet and surimi. Washing during surimi processing removed cathepsin B and H but not cathepsin L. Autolytic analysis of surimi proteins showed that the myosin was the primary target, while actin and myosin light chain showed limited hydrolysis during 2 hr incubation. When purified Pacific whiting proteinase was incubated with various component of fish muscle, proteinase was capable of hydrolyzing purified myofibrils myosin, and native and heat-denatured collagen. The degradation pattern of myofibrils by the proteinase was the same as the autolytic pattern of surimi. Inhibition by the food-grade proteinase inhibitors varied with the catalytic type of proteinase. Beef plasma protein (BPP) had a higher percentage of papain inhibitors, followed by whey protein concentrate (WPC), potato powder (PP), and egg white (EW). On the other hand, EW had a higher percentage of trypsin inhibitors followed by BPP, PP, and WPC. EW inhibited trypsin activity completely at levels as low as 1%. WPC inhibited the autolytic activity of fresh surimi. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was not effective as WPC. WPC can be used as an inhibitor for the Pacific whiting surimi, but high concentration is required. A limited number of inhibitory components were found, as the components in food-grade inhibitors were characterized by inhibitory activity staining. Both EW and PP showed more serine proteinase inhibitors than cysteine proteinase inhibitors. PP showed one cysteine inhibitory component while EW did not show any. BSA in both WPC and BPP acts as an nonspecific competitive inhibitor and reduces the enzyme activity. An unidentified high molecular weight protein (HMP) found in WPC, BPP, and BSA functions as an alternative substrate for papain while it functions as true inhibitor for trypsin. / Graduation date: 1995