Postmortem energy metabolism and meat quality development: Advances in basic pathways, endogenous regulatory factors, and exogenous management strategies

Postmortem mitochondria, especially from livestock, remain metabolically active and exhibit oxygen consumption, which further mediates changes in muscle pH. Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase and hypoxia inducible factor-1α, as energy-controlling hubs, contribute notably to the activation of postmortem glycolysis. Several protein posttranslational modifications (e.g., S-nitrosylation and lactylation) also show crucial regulatory roles for postmortem energy metabolism by altering the structure and function of metabolic enzymes. Exogenous techniques like electrical stimulation and advanced chilling can improve meat quality by optimizing energy metabolism process, while emerging technologies such as ultrasound hold promise. This work integrated existing knowledge, identified research gaps, and proposed a scientific outlook on species-specific postmortem energy metabolism.