Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of inosine 5′-monophosphate dephosphorylation in turbot muscle during storage in different chilling and freezing conditions

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography was used to study post-mortem variation in dephosphorylation of inosine 5′-monophosphate and accumulation of its breakdown products in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) muscle during storage at low temperatures. The relative concentrations of these compounds can be used as an index of freshness. Nucleotide decomposition and nucleoside and base accumulation are influenced by the following storage conditions: chilling at 4°Cfor 1 to 15 days; freezing for 15 days of pre- or post-rigor muscle at various temperatures between -10 and -196°C; and quick or slow thawing.