At pressurization levels closest to the
present research, electron micrograph images indicated structural loss
of the sarcomere, disappearance of Z-lines as well as I and A-filament
disorganization (Suzuki et al., 1991). This destruction of protein
structure may explain the increased tenderness of treated samples.
This destruction further clarifies the protein degradation results as
typical proteolysis would not be expected in samples with extensive
protein destruction.