Gel forming and pysico-chemical properties of protein recovered form whole and gutted common kilka (Clupeonella cultriventris)

The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the pH-shift process in protein recovery from whole and gutted common kilka and characteristics of the produced gel compared with muscle surimi obtained with the conventional method. Although both acidic and alkaline methods reduced total pigment (TP) in isolates obtained from the whole and gutted fish, the alkaline version was more effective and the lowest amount of TP was observed in the isolate from gutted fish using alkaline version. The last sample also contained the lowest amount of TCA soluble peptide which was significantly lower than the others. Also, gel produced from the isolate recovered form gutted kilka with the alkaline version had significantly higher water holding capacity and gel hardness but it was weaker than the sample obtained with conventional method. The results were supported with higher relative amount of actomyosin and actin in the structure of the gels produced from the gutted fish isolate and surimi from fish muscle, as reflected in SDS-PAGE. Nevertheless, the whiteness of the samples recovered with pH-shift process was quite lower than the muscle surimi which reveals the necessity of more research in this area.