The American Meat Science Association (AMSA) is excited to announce that Drs. Broeckling, Zhai  and Johnson will present in the Concurrent Session on “Proteomic Techniques for Meat Quality Research: An Introduction and Exploration of Opportunities to Advance our Science,” on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at the 78th Reciprocal Meat Conference (RMC), sponsored by Kemin. This session will explore the application of proteomics—a powerful method using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry—for in-depth protein analysis in meat science. It covers foundational concepts, targeted and shotgun approaches, and showcases how proteomics, paired with advanced tools like machine learning, can unravel complex biological processes such as postmortem proteolysis. Speakers highlight both methodological guidance and cutting-edge research, offering valuable insights for researchers aiming to integrate proteomics into their studies.

Proteomics: An Overview and How-to for Meat Science Research

Proteomics is a large-scale phenotyping approach that leverages liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to comprehensively analyze protein composition and abundance in biological samples. In this presentation Dr. Broeckling will introduce the fundamentals of proteomic methodologies, including their historical development, the principles of mass spectrometry, and key statistical and informatics considerations. He will conclude with practical guidance on the essential information and resources needed to start incorporating proteomics into your own research.

Speaker: Corey Broeckling, Ph.D., President, Colorado Biological Mass Spectrometry Society, Colorado State University 

Using Proteomics in Targeted Studies to Address Muscle Biology and Meat Science Questions

Postmortem proteolysis plays a critical role in the development of meat quality, with Calpain-1 and Calpain-2—intracellular, calcium-dependent cysteine proteases—being key contributors in skeletal muscle. Dr. Zhai will highlight two studies that integrate proteomic techniques with machine learning to investigate how protein lipoxidation affects calpain complex function. It he will explore two additional studies that utilize a modified bottom-up proteomic workflow to analyze proteolyzed protein fragments and deepen our understanding of postmortem proteome degradation.

Speaker: Chaoyu Zhai, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Muscle Food Chemistry, University of Connecticut

Using Proteomics in Shotgun Studies to Address Meat Science and Muscle Biology Questions

Dr. Johnson will offer a comprehensive overview of bottom-up proteomic research in meat science and muscle biology, outlining the current state of the field through recent study findings. It will showcase preliminary data and highlight innovative strategies for data analysis and visualization designed to deepen insights into meat science. He will then outline the unique challenges, opportunities, and complexities involved in applying bottom-up proteomic approaches in this area of research.

Speaker: Logan Johnson, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University