Microbial β-glucosidases: Recent advances and applications

The global β-glucosidase market is currently estimated at ∼400 million USD, and it is expected to double in the next six years; a trend that is mainly ascribed to the demand for the enzyme for biofuel processing. Microbial β-glucosidase, particularly, has thus garnered significant attention due to its ease of production, catalytic efficiency, and versatility, which have all facilitated its biotechnological potential across different industries. Hence, there are continued efforts to screen, produce, purify, characterize and evaluate the industrial applicability of β-glucosidase from actinomycetes, bacteria, fungi, and yeasts. With this rising demand for β-glucosidase, various cost-effective and efficient approaches are being explored to discover, redesign, and enhance their production and functional properties. Thus, this present review provides an up-to-date overview of advancements in the utilization of microbial β-glucosidases as "Emerging Green Tools" in 21st-century industries. In this regard, focus was placed on the use of recombinant technology, protein engineering, and immobilization techniques targeted at improving the industrial applicability of the enzyme. Furthermore, insights were given into the recent progress made in conventional β-glucosidase production, their industrial applications, as well as the current commercial status-with a focus on the patents.

Analysis of Volatile Components in Rosa roxburghii Tratt. and Rosa sterilis Using Headspace-Solid-Phase Microextraction-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and flavor characteristics of Rosa roxburghii Tratt. (RR) and Rosa sterilis (RS) were analyzed using headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). The flavor network was constructed by combining relative odor activity values (ROAVs), and the signature differential flavor components were screened using orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and random forest (RF). The results showed that 61 VOCs were detected in both RR and RS: 48 in RR, and 26 in RS. There were six key flavor components (ROAVs ≥ 1) in RR, namely nonanal, ethyl butanoate, ethyl hexanoate, (3Z)-3-hexen-1-yl acetate, ethyl caprylate, and styrene, among which ethyl butanoate had the highest contribution, whereas there were eight key flavor components (ROAVs ≥ 1) in RS, namely 2-nonanol, (E)-2-hexenal, nonanal, methyl salicylate, β-ocimene, caryophyllene, α-ionone, and styrene, among which nonanal contributed the most to RS. The flavor of RR is primarily fruity, sweet, green banana, and waxy, while the flavor of RS is primarily sweet and floral. In addition, OPLS-DA and RF suggested that (E)-2-hexenal, ethyl caprylate, β-ocimene, and ethyl butanoate could be the signature differential flavor components for distinguishing between RR and RS. In this study, the differences in VOCs between RR and RS were analyzed to provide a basis for further development and utilization.

Screening and oenological property analysis of ethanol-tolerant non-Saccharomyces yeasts isolated from Rosa roxburghii Tratt

Ethanol tolerance is crucial for the oenological yeasts. Rosa roxburghii Tratt, a Rosaceae plant native to China, is rich in nutritional and medicinal ingredients. In this study, ethanol-tolerant non-Saccharomyces yeasts were screened, and their oenological properties were further evaluated. Three ethanol-tolerant yeast strains (designated as C6, F112, and F15), which could tolerate 12% (v/v) ethanol treatment, were isolated from R. roxburghii, and identified as Candida tropicalis, Pichia guilliermondii, and Wickerhamomyces anomalus, respectively. The winemaking condition tolerances of these ethanol-tolerant yeast strains were similar to those of Saccharomyces cerevisiae X16. However, their growth, sugar metabolic performance and sulphureted hydrogen activities, were different. The β-glucosidase production ability of strain W. anomalus F15 was lower than that of S. cerevisiae X16, and strains of C. tropicalis C6 and P. guilliermondii F112 were similar to S. cerevisiae X16. Electronic sensory properties of the R. roxburghii wines fermented using ethanol-tolerant yeasts together with S. cerevisiae showed no significant differences. However, the mixed inoculation of the ethanol-tolerant yeast strains with S. cerevisiae could regulate the volatile aroma characteristics of the fermented R. roxburghii wine, enriching and enhancing the aroma flavor. Therefore, the selected ethanol-tolerant yeasts have the potential for application in the production of unique R. roxburghii wine.

Biodiversity and Oenological Property Analysis of Non-Saccharomyces Yeasts Isolated from Korla Fragrant Pears (Pyrus sinkiangensis Yu)

Oenological yeasts play a critical role in the winemaking process. In this study, the biodiversity of the non-Saccharomyces yeast was analyzed and monitored using high-throughput sequencing and culture-dependent approaches. Oenological and fermentation characteristics of these native yeasts were further investigated. A total of 241 fungus species and 5 species of culturable non-Saccharomyces yeasts were detected using high-throughput sequencing and culture-dependent approaches, respectively. Five strains of aroma-producing yeasts (K4, K14, K19, K21, and K26) were isolated, and their growth characteristics, carbon source utilization, hydrogen sulfide production performance, and β-glucosidase activity were different. The oenological condition tolerances of most strains were lower than that of commercial S. cerevisiae X16. The co-inoculum of these strains and S. cerevisiae X16 regulated the volatile aroma characteristics of the fermented Korla fragrant pear (KFP) fruit wine, enriching and complicating the aroma flavor. Thus, the combined inoculation of these indigenous wine yeasts and S. cerevisiae has some application potential in the production of KFP wine.

Effects of Mixed Adding Crude Extracts of β-Glucosidases from Three Different Non-Saccharomyces Yeast Strains on the Quality of Cabernet Sauvignon Wines

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of crude extracts of β-glucosidase from Issatchenkia terricola SLY-4, Pichia kudriavzevii F2-24 and Metschnikowia pulcherrima HX-13 (termed as SLY-4E, F2-24E and HX-13E) on the flavor complexity and typicality of Cabernet Sauvignon wines. The grape must was fermented using Saccharomyces cerevisiae with single or mixed SLY-4E, F2-24E and HX-13E. The physicochemical characteristics, volatile aroma compounds, total anthocyanins and sensory attributes of the wines were determined. Adding SLY-4E, F2-24E and HX-13E in wines resulted in a decrease in the anthocyanin content, total acids and volatile acids in wines but an increase in the content of terpenes, benzene derivatives, higher alcohols and esters, which may enhance wine sensory qualities and result in loss of wine color. Different adding strategies of β-glucosidase led to a variety of effects on wine aroma. S/H/F-Ew significantly increased the content of benzene derivatives, higher alcohols and long-chain fatty acid esters, which enhanced the fruity and floral flavor of wines. F2-24E significantly increased the content of short- and medium-chain fatty acid esters, acetate esters and carbonyl compounds. The results indicated that the mixed addition of non-Saccharomyces crude extracts and co-fermentation with S. cerevisiae could further improve wine flavor quality.

A Comparative Study of Yeasts for Rosa roxburghii Wine Fermentation

Wine produced by fermentation of Chestnut rose (Rosa roxburghii) hips, known as cili (Chinese-Mandarin), in Guizhou province, and other places in China is becoming popular but there is limited knowledge of suitable yeast strains for its production. In this study, we first investigated the oenological properties of six commercial S. cerevisiae yeast strains (X16, F33, SH12, GV107, S102, RMS2), one commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. bayanus (S103), one commercial, non-Saccharomyces yeast strain, Torulaspora delbrueckii Prelude, and one indigenous S. cerevisiae strain, CZ, for cili wine fermentation. We measured the key traits of each of the yeast strains, viz., sulfite resistance, flocculation, hydrogen sulfide production capacity, fermentation rate, and yeast growth curves. Subsequently, we measured the resultant wine characteristics, viz., pH, alcohol content, residual sugar, titratable acidity, volatile acidity, ascorbic acid content and headspace volatile compounds. The overall suitability of each yeast type was evaluated using a multi-factor, unweighted, scorecard. On that basis, RMS2 was the most suitable, and closely followed by CZ and X16. This study is the first comparative evaluation of yeasts for cili wine production and provides a preliminary guide for their selection.

Effects of Rosa roxburghii Tratt Must on the Growth, Nutrient Composition, and Antioxidant Activity of Pleurotus ostreatus Mycelia

Rosa roxburghii Tratt, a Rosaceae plant endemic to China, produces fruit with high nutritional and medicinal value. The effects of R. roxburghii must on the growth, nutrient composition, and antioxidant activity of Pleurotus ostreatus mycelia was investigated. We measured the mycelial growth rate, proximate composition, amino acid and crude polysaccharide content, and the antioxidant activity of the crude polysaccharides of P. ostreatus mycelia cultivated under different concentrations of R. roxburghii must (2%, 4%, and 8%, v/v). Low concentrations of R. roxburghii must (2% and 4%) promoted mycelial growth, while a high concentration (8%) inhibited mycelial growth. Low concentrations of R. roxburghii must had no significant effects on the soluble substances, fat, ash, and crude fiber in P. ostreatus mycelia, but significantly increased the crude protein and total amino acid contents (p < 0.05). The addition of R. roxburghii must at low concentrations significantly increased the crude polysaccharide content in mycelia (p < 0.05) but had no impact on the scavenging of hydroxyl radicals and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Therefore, R. roxburghii must at low concentration can be used as a substrate for P. ostreatus cultivation to increase the protein and polysaccharide contents in mycelia.

Oenological property analysis of selected Hanseniaspora uvarum isolated from Rosa roxburghii Tratt

Oenological yeasts play a crucial role in the winemaking process by converting sugar into ethanol, carbon dioxide and flavor substances that contribute to the wine aroma profile. Eighty strains of yeast were isolated from Rosa roxburghii Tratt. Three of the indigenous yeast strains (numbered as C26, C31 and F110) were selected based on having the strongest fruity-aroma producing ability to further evaluate theirs oenological properties, and they were identified as Hanseniaspora uvarum based on morphological and molecular analyses. Strains tolerance results showed that the selected strains have glucose, citric acid and sulfur dioxide tolerances that are comparable to commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae X16, but they are ethanol sensitive. Additionally, the H. uvarum strains had similar β-glucosidase production abilities to the control, but they do not produce hydrogen sulfide. Moreover, the selected H. uvarum strains reduced the acidity and increased the volatile aroma richness and complexity of R. roxburghii wine during laboratory-scale fermentation. Thus, the selected H. uvarum strains (C26, C31 and F110) show potential in the production of unique R. roxburghii wine.