Wine genomics

Yeast bioprospecting versus synthetic biology-which is better for innovative beverage fermentation?

Producers often utilise some of the many available yeast species and strains in the making of fermented alcoholic beverages in order to augment flavours, aromas, acids and textural properties. But still, the demand remains for more yeasts with novel phenotypes that not only impact sensory characteristics but also offer process and engineering advantages. Two strategies for finding such yeasts are (i) bioprospecting for novel strains and species and (ii) genetic modification of known yeasts. The latter enjoys the promise of the emerging field of synthetic biology, which, in principle, would enable scientists to create yeasts with the exact phenotype desired for a given fermentation. In this mini review, we compare and contrast advances in bioprospecting and in synthetic biology as they relate to alcoholic fermentation in brewing and wine making. We explore recent advances in fermentation-relevant recombinant technologies and synthetic biology including the Yeast 2.0 Consortium, use of environmental yeasts, challenges, constraints of law and consumer acceptance.

Development of Potential Yeast Protein Extracts for Red Wine Clarification and Stabilization

Recently, new technologies have been combined to improve quality and sensorial diversity of wine. Several fining agents were developed to induce flocculation and sedimentation of particulate matter in wine, enhancing its clarification, and stabilization. The fining agents most commonly used are animal proteins, such as milk casein or egg albumin. However, its use is being related to food intolerance. To overcome this issue, alternative sources should be explored for use in industrial processes. In previous studies performed by our consortium, the potential of yeast protein extracts (YPE) in white wine clarification, stabilization, and curative processes was identified. Thus, the main objective of the present work is to select YPE with the potential to develop fining agents for red wine, without health risk to consumers. Therefore, five yeast strains were selected from a diversified collection of oenological yeasts, in order to produce protein extracts. Along with the fining trials, a vinification assay was performed to evaluate the maceration effect of the obtained YPE. The previously selected yeast strains were also screened for the production of the usual enzymatic activities found in commercial maceration preparations, namely polygalacturonase, cellulase, protease, and ß-glucosidase activities, in order to evaluate its potential effect on wine. Our results indicate that YPE, particularly BCVII 1, BCVII 2, and BCVII 5 were able to promote a significant brilliance increase, along with a turbidity reduction and final color improvement. In the vinification assay, BCVII 2 stands out with better results for color intensity and phenolic compounds content improvement. In what refers to enzymatic activities, BCVII 2 shows advantage over the other YPEs, due to its protease and β-glucosidase activity. We demonstrate that the selected YPEs, with emphasis on BCVII 2, may represent an efficient alternative to the commonly used fining products.

High-glutathione producing yeasts obtained by genetic improvement strategies: a focus on adaptive evolution approaches for novel wine strains

Glutathione (GSH) is the most abundant non-protein thiol in living organisms. Due to its important antioxidant role, it is widely used in medicine, as a food additive, and in the cosmetic industry. Recently, GSH has received growing attention in winemaking because of its ability to control oxidative spoilage damage and to protect various aromatic compounds. Indeed, GSH concentration in wine is highly variable and several factors are involved in its regulation, ranging from grape must to yeast fermentation activity. This short review aims at highlighting the common genetic strategies, useful for obtaining wine yeasts with enhanced GSH production, paying particular attention to the adaptive evolution approaches. Moreover, other strategies, such as random mutagenesis, metabolic engineering and hybridization have been briefly reviewed with a stress on both their strengths and weaknesses in terms of actual feasibility and acceptance by wine consumers.