Enhanced transmembrane transport of calcium by the combination of Acetes chinensis powder and surimi: Digestive, antioxidant, and absorptive properties

• 1.5% ACP improved the protein digestibility of surmi gel. • Antioxidant capacity of digested surimi was enhanced by 1.5% ACP. • Ca 2+ uptake of ACP-digested surimi in Caco-2 cell was improved. • Ca 2+ transport via endocytosis, calmodulin channel, cell bypass were enhanced. To enhance the nutrition and bioavailability of surimi gel, this study systematically investigated the digestive properties and transmembrane transport of Acetes chinensis powder (ACP)-Alaska pollock surimi gel. The results demonstrated that surimi with 1.5% ACP significantly improved protein digestibility (13%) and hydrolysis efficiency (22%) compared to control group. Moreover, the anti-oxidation including total reducing power, ABTS scavenging, Fe 2+ chelating scavenging increased by 54%, 3%, 12% respectively. The surface hydrophobicity and free amino acids content of surimi gel digestion products in the 1.5% ACP group were 51% and 28% higher than those of the control group. Multiple transport pathways were identified, including clathrin protein-caveolin protein-mediated endocytosis, voltage-driven paracellular translocation, and the synergistic effect of activated calmodulin pathway by calcium ions. Overall, moderate ACP addition enhanced protein digestion, antioxidant capacity, and calcium bioavailability of surimi gel.