A FOURIER TRANSFORM INFRARED SPECTROSCOPIC STUDY ON SKELETAL MUSCLE OF SHEEP M. Masood Ahmed Mahmoodi, Kaleem Ahmed Jaleeli and Adeel Ahmad Biophysics Research Laboratory, Department of Physics, Nizam College (Autonomous), Osmania University, Hyderabad – 500 001, India E-mail: dr_adeelahmad@yahoo.com Abstract: The paper reports FTIR spectroscopic data on sheep skeletal muscle. The study reveals the presence of contractile proteins, phospholipids, triglycerides and cholesterol along with phosphates in the skeletal muscle. Conformations of proteins are also evident from the spectral study. Keywords: Skeletal muscle, Sheep, FTIR spectroscopy. 1. Introduction Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a potential tool to extract vital information in the study of biological system. Extensive research work is being done on biological apatite and other biological inorganic materials. Jean – Louis Damez and Sylvie Clevjon [1] discussed various biophysical methods that can be used to understand meat structure. Kelly L pearce, et. al., [2] analysed, using low field nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, the distribution and mobility of water; postmortem changes in muscle; and the factors affecting these in relation to fresh meat quality parameters like water holding capacity, tenderness and juiciness. Isabel Campos, et. al., [3] used near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) as an online analytical technique to predict the sodium content in dry – cured ham slices. The results of the study showed that NIR measurements can be utilized in giving accurate sodium content information of packaged dry – cured ham slices. Ana Carilona, et. al., [4] used near infrared spectroscopy and multivariate calibration for simultaneous determination of glucose, triglycerides and high density lipoprotein in animal plasma. Parvel Kaspar, et. al., [5] studied angular absorption of light for evaluation of structural damage to porcine meat caused by ageing, drying and freezing. They showed that the measurement of optical angular dependency of absorption in relation to muscle fiber can be utilized for detecting the structural damage to the sample for meat quality control purpose. International Journal of Science, Environment ISSN 2278-3687 (O) and Technology, Vol. 6, No 1, 2017, 326 – 331 2277-663X (P) Received Dec 29, 2016 * Published Feb 2, 2017 * www.ijset.net