Improvement of isoamyl acetate productivity in sake yeast by isolating mutants resistant to econazole

Sake yeast strains were improved so as to produce larger amounts of isoamyl acetate than the parental strain by isolating econazole-resistant mutants. Econazole, an imidazole antimycotic, directly interacts with unsaturated fatty acids in the yeast cell membrane, where it also inhibits the synthesis of ergosterol and decreases the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids. In contrast, alcohol acetyltransferase (AATase), which catalyzes the synthesis of isoamyl acetate, is inhibited by unsaturated fatty acids. Fifty econazole-resistant mutants were isolated from a sake yeast, Kyokai no. 701, several of which produced approximately 1.4 to 2.4 times more isoamyl acetate and an almost equal amount of isoamyl alcohol compared with the parental strain. The AATase activities of the mutants in koji extract were 1.2 to 1.4 times higher, and the unsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratios were lower, than in the parental strain.     

Effect of cellular inositol content on ethanol tolerance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in sake brewing

The effect of cellular inositol content on the ethanol tolerance of sake yeast was investigated. In a static culture of strain K901 in a synthetic medium, when cells were grown in the presence of inositol in limited amount (L-cells), the inositol content of cells decreased by one-third that of cells grown in the presence of inositol in sufficient amount (H-cells). L-cells exhibited a higher death rate constant than H-cells in the presence of 12-20% ethanol, while no difference in specific ethanol production rate in the presence of 0-18% ethanol between the two cell types was observed. L-cells leaked more intracellular components, such as nucleotides, phosphate and potassium, in the presence of ethanol than H-cells. L-cells exhibited a lower intracellular pH value than H-cells, which represented the lowering of cell vitality by the decrease in H(+) extrusion activity. Furthermore, the plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase activity of L-cells was approximately one-half of that of H-cells. Therefore, it was considered that the decrease in viability in the presence of ethanol due to inositol limitation results from the lowering of H(+)-ATPase activity, which maintains the permeability barrier of the yeast membrane, ensuring the homeostasis of ions in the cytoplasm of yeast cells. It is assumed that the lowering of H(+)-ATPase activity due to inositol limitation is caused by the change in lipid environment of the enzyme, which is affected by inositol-containing glycerophospholipids such as phosphatidylinositol (PI), because in the PI-saturated mixed micellar assay system, the difference in H(+)-ATPase activity between L- and H-cells disappeared. In the early stage of sake mash, inositol limitation lowers the ethanol tolerance due to the decrease in H(+)-ATPase activity as in static culture. In the final stage of sake mash, the disruption of the ino1 gene responsible for inositol synthesis, resulted in a decrease in cell density. Furthermore, the ino1 disruptant, which was not capable of increasing the cellular inositol level in the final stage, exhibited a significantly higher methylene blue-staining ratio than the parental strain. It was suggested that the yeast cellular inositol level is one of the important factors which contribute to the high ethanol tolerance implied by the increased cell viability in the presence of ethanol.     

The phosphatidylcholine to phosphatidylethanolamine ratio of Saccharomyces cerevisiae varies with the growth phase

This study compares the effect of the growth phase on the phospholipid composition and the activity of several phospholipid biosynthetic enzymes in a wild-type yeast grown in fermentable (glucose) and non-fermentable (lactate) semi-synthetic and complete synthetic media. Several distinct differences as well as similarities were found. The cellular phosphatidylcholine: phosphatidylethanolamine (PC:PE) ratio was found to vary with the growth phase, with increases in PC levels at the expense of PE during the transition to stationary phase. The variation was most pronounced in semi-synthetic lactate medium, which is routinely used for the isolation of mitochondria, where the PC:PE ratio changed from 0.9 to 2.2 during this transition. Similar growth phase-dependent changes in PC and PE content were observed in isolated organelles such as mitochondria, mitochondria-associated membranes and microsomes. Phosphatidylinositol (PI) levels were much higher in cells grown on lactate compared to cells grown on glucose (20% vs. 5-10%). Irrespective of the medium, PI levels increased upon entering stationary phase. The activities of the phospholipid biosynthetic enzymes phosphatidylserine synthase and the phospholipid-N-methyltransferases were found to be maximal at the end of logarithmic growth and to decrease upon entering stationary phase in all media. Cells grown on lactate displayed a significantly higher phospholipid:protein ratio than cells grown on glucose. The results are discussed in terms of regulation of phospholipid biosynthesis and membrane biogenesis in response to growth phase and carbon source.     

Improved production of isoamyl acetate by a sake yeast mutant resistant to an isoprenoid analog and its dependence on alcohol acetyltransferase activity, but not on isoamyl alcohol production

1-Farnesylpyridinium (FPy), an analog of isoprenoid farnesol, strongly inhibited the growth of sake yeast at 120 microM in YPD medium, whereas at 30 microM it reduced cellular production of isoamyl acetate to 20% of the control level despite the absence of inhibitory effect on CO2 evolution. The FPy-resistant mutant A1 was characterized by the high production of flavor compounds represented by a nearly threefold increase in the level of isoamyl acetate in YPD medium in which the level of isoamyl alcohol as its precursor remained almost unchanged. The FPy resistance phenotype of strain A1 was not accompanied by cellular resistance to either the L-leucine analog or L-canavanine, which alters yeast amino acid metabolism in favor of isoamyl alcohol production. Alcohol acetyltransferase (AATase) activity was high in strain A1, which further increased in response to isoamyl alcohol accumulation in medium. Flavor compound production in sake brewing could be improved using strain A1, resulting in a 1.4-fold increase in isoamyl acetate production in spite of a limited production of isoamyl alcohol.     

Isolation of a Copper‐resistant Sake Yeast Mutant with Improved Flavour Compound Production

The sake (traditional Japanese alcoholic beverage) yeast mutant A1 was previously isolated as a strain resistant to an isoprenoid analog. This strain is used for industrial sake brewing because of its increased production of isoamyl acetate. In this study, a physiological event was identified which was closely related to the elevation of alcohol acetyltransferase (AATase) activity in strain A1. This finding was applied for the isolation of another mutant with an improved capacity for flavour compound production. Strain A1 revealed an additional phenotype showing resistance to Cu²⁺, as seen from its growth and isoamyl acetate production, even in a medium with the copper ion at 6 mM. Mutant strains were successfully isolated with increased isoamyl acetate production capacity from sake yeast strain 2NF on the basis of a Cu²⁺‐resistant phenotype at a high yield. Among them, strain Cu7 was characterized by its ability to produce isoamyl acetate at the highest concentration under condition where isoamyl alcohol (its precursor) was accumulated to the lowest extent. Such a phenotype of strain Cu7 is applicable for the practical production of an alcoholic beverage of excellent quality in terms of flavour.     

Phenotypes and brewing characteristics of sake yeast Kyokai no. 7 mutants resistant to valproate

Screening of drug‐resistant mutants of sake yeast strains has been a major method for creation of superior strains. We attempted to create a valproic acid (VPA)‐resistant mutant strain from sake yeast Kyokai No. 7 (K7). VPA is a branched‐chain fatty acid and is an inositol synthesis inhibitor in mammals and yeast. We succeeded in isolating a mutant of strain K7 that can survive long‐term in a VPA‐containing medium. This strain, K7‐VPA^LS, is significantly more resistant to not only VPA‐induced cell death but also ethanol in comparison with the parent strain. Further experiments showed that the new strain is likely to have a deficiency in inositol and/or phosphatidylinositol synthesis. The major characteristics of sake brewed by strain K7‐VPA^LS (compared with K7) were lower amino acidity, higher isoamyl acetate content without an increase in the isoamyl alcohol level and changes in constituent organic acids, particularly higher malate and succinate but lower acetate concentrations. In addition, taste sensor analysis revealed that K7‐VPA^LS‐brewed sake has milder sourness and higher saltiness or richness than K7‐brewed sake does. High isoamyl acetate production may be related to a deficiency in phosphatidylinositol because this compound directly inhibits alcohol acetyltransferase, an enzyme responsible for isoamyl acetate synthesis. Strain K7‐VPA^LS grew more rapidly than the parental strain did in a medium containing acetate as a sole carbon source, indicating that K7‐VPA^LS effectively assimilates acetate and converts it to malate and succinate through the glyoxylate cycle. Thus, strain K7‐VPA^LS shows improved characteristics for brewing of high‐quality sake. Copyright © 2017 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

Effect of NAD+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase gene (IDH1, IDH2) disruption of sake yeast on organic acid composition in sake mash

The ratio of organic acids in sake mash is a very important factor affecting the taste of alcoholic beverages. To alter the organic acid composition in sake and investigate the mechanism of producing organic acids in sake mash, we examined the effect of NAD+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) activity deficiency in sake yeast by disrupting the IDH1 or IDH2 gene. Two haploid strains (MATa or MATa genotype) isolated from sake yeast Kyokai no. 701 (K701) were disrupted using the aureobasidin A resistant gene (AUR1-C) as a selection marker. These disruptants were defective in the activity of IDH and failed to grow on medium containing glycerol as a sole carbon source. Sake meter, alcohol concentration, and glucose consumption in sake brewed with the disruptants were reduced in comparison with those of the parental strains. The production of citrate (including isocitrate), malate, and acetate by the disruptants was increased, but succinate production was reduced to approximately half in comparison with the parental strains. These results indicate that approximately half the amount of succinate in sake mash is produced via the oxidative pathway of the TCA cycle in sake yeast. While the diploid strain constructed by mating haploid disruptants for the IDH gene exhibited stronger fermentation ability than the haploid disruptants, almost similar profiles of components in sake were obtained for both strains.     

Phospholipids determination in vegetable oil by thin-layer chromatography and imaging densitometry

A rapid reliable method was developed to measure vegetable oil phospholipid content by thin-layer chromatography–imaging densitometry. Phospholipid samples were obtained from crude soybean oil by water degumming and then analyzed and quantified by thin-layer chromatography and imaging densitometry. Phosphatidyl choline (PC), phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidyl inositol (PI) standard curves were generated. The total phospholipid content of the oil was 1.12–1.26%, of which 27.1 ± 1.86% was PC, 22.7 ± 0.45% was PE, while PI accounted for 17.2 ± 0.85% of the total. A high correlation coefficient of 0.985 was found for reproducibility of pixel area (OD*mm) at a constant concentration of standard phospholipid. Regression analysis of the pixel area vs the phospholipid (PC, PE, and PI) weights (μg) generated R² greater than 0.983. Thin-layer chromatography–imaging densitometry proved a useful tool for rapid determination and quantification of the major phospholipids in soybean oil.     

Sake: Production and flavor

Abstract

Sake, its history in Japan, the unique brewing process, and microbes concerned with the characteristics of flavor are described. The main flavor components derived mainly from the fermentation process are higher alcohols, isoamyl acetate, ethyl caproate, and phenethyl acetate. These are the compounds which give an accent to the flavor of sake. The esters are formed mainly by yeast during mash fermentation. Isoamyl acetate is produced by the reaction of acetyl CoA with isoamyl alcohol catalyzed by alcohol acetyl transferase. The enzyme, bound to the yeast cell membrane, is unstable to heat and unsaturated fatty acids. The ester formation is regulated by the amount of isoamyl alcohol produced. Acyl CoA alcohol acyl transferease catalyzes the formation of ethyl caproate from caproyl CoA and ethanol. In this reaction, the amount of caproyl CoA supplied is important. The mechanism of higher alcohol formation, including the biosynthetic pathway of amino acids and its feedback regulation, is discussed. Finally, breeding and the practical use of sake yeast with high productivity of higher concentrations of higher alcohols and esters are described.     

Comparative analysis of promoter regions containing binding sites of the heterodimeric transcription factor Ino2/Ino4 involved in yeast phospholipid biosynthesis

The inositol/choline responsive element (ICRE) functions as a UAS element mediating coordinate expression of structural genes required for yeast phospholipid biosynthesis. However, ICRE motifs could be detected upstream of various genes apparently not involved in lipid metabolism. In this work we investigated the expression pattern of selected genes containing ICRE promoter motifs, as identified by in silico analysis (ARG4, ERG20, FAR8, GPD2, RSF1, URA8, VHT1 and YEL073C). It turned out that the presence of an ICRE upstream of a gene of unknown function indeed allows to conclude for regulation by phospholipid precursors, which is mediated by activators Ino2/Ino4 and the repressor Opi1. We also demonstrated in vitro binding of Ino2/Ino4 heterodimers to promoter regions. Thus, our analysis supports the view that identification of regulatory elements by a database search provides evidence for a specific pattern of gene expression. Activation by pathway-specific regulators may suggest a physiological function for as yet uncharacterized genes.     

On-line measurement of intracellular ATP of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and pyruvate during sake mashing

The concentrations of intracellular ATP of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and pyruvate in a medium were instantaneously increased by pulse addition of glucose during starvation. They were reduced rapidly by alcohol fortification of the medium, accompanied by simultaneous increases of acetaldehyde concentration and inviability of yeast cells. These results were monitored during fermentation of sake mash by an on-line measuring method. Intracellular ATP and pyruvate concentrations were considered to be indicators of the physiological state of the yeast in sake mash. During sake mashing, it was observed that an increase in temperature enhanced the intracellular ATP concentration and the pyruvate production of the yeast. Since pyruvate production was not affected intensely by changes in temperature during cultivation in a glucose-limited chemostat, this effect was thought to be due to the enhanced rates of cell-growth and/or alcohol production. This suggests that the control of mashing temperature during cell growth until about 10% alcohol accumulation is achieved is important for the control of the pyruvate concentration in sake mash.     

Disruption of ubiquitin-related genes in laboratory yeast strains enhances ethanol production during sake brewing

Sake yeast can produce high levels of ethanol in concentrated rice mash. While both sake and laboratory yeast strains belong to the species Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the laboratory strains produce much less ethanol. This disparity in fermentation activity may be due to the strains' different responses to environmental stresses, including ethanol accumulation. To obtain more insight into the stress response of yeast cells under sake brewing conditions, we carried out small-scale sake brewing tests using laboratory yeast strains disrupted in specific stress-related genes. Surprisingly, yeast strains with disrupted ubiquitin-related genes produced more ethanol than the parental strain during sake brewing. The elevated fermentation ability conferred by disruption of the ubiquitin-coding gene UBI4 was confined to laboratory strains, and the ubi4 disruptant of a sake yeast strain did not demonstrate a comparable increase in ethanol production. These findings suggest different roles for ubiquitin in sake and laboratory yeast strains.     

Fatty acid and aldehyde composition of individual phospholipid classes of rabbit skeletal muscles is related to the metabolic type of the fibre

The fatty acid composition of individual phospholipid classes as related to metabolic type of fibre in the rabbit was studied. The fatty acid composition of the individual phospholipid classes of five muscles were compared: two glycolytic ones (Longissimus lumborum and Psoas major), two oxidative ones (Soleus and Semimembranosus propriosus,) and an intermediate one (Gastrocnemius laterale). It was shown that except for phosphatidyl inositol (PI), the fatty acid compositions of the main phospholipid classes were strongly related to the metabolic type of the fibres; phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE) of oxidative muscles contains less 18:2 n-6 and more 18:0 and long chain PUFA of the n-6 and n-3 series than that of glycolytic ones; phosphatidyl choline (PC) of oxidative muscles contains more 18:0 and less 16:0 and 18:2 n-6 than that of glycolytic ones; cardiolipin of the oxidative muscles contains less 18:2 n-6 than those of the glycolytic ones. These differences in fatty acid composition of PE, PC and cardiolipin explain a large part of the differences in fatty acid compositions of the total phospholipids of glycolytic and oxidative muscles.     

Amplified fragment length polymorphism of the AWA1 gene of sake yeasts for identification of sake yeast strains

Sake yeasts are used for sake brewing and have a crucial role in the quality of sake, since they produce not only ethanol but also various compounds that provide sake flavors. Therefore, the appropriate selection and monitoring of a strain used in sake mash is important. However, the identification of specific sake yeast strains has been difficult, because sake yeasts have similar characteristics in taxonomic and physiological analyses. We found amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) in the PCR products of the AWA1 gene of sake yeast strains. The AWA1 gene encodes a cell wall protein that is responsible for foam formation in sake mash. This polymorphism of the AWA1 gene can be used for the identification of sake yeast strains.     

Analyses of peptides in sake mash: forming a profile of bitter-tasting peptides

Some oligopeptides and amino acids have a strong influence on the sensory qualities of sake, but the formation process of such compounds in sake mash has not been well elucidated. In this study, we investigated the formation process of bitter-tasting peptides derived from rice proteins in sake mash, because knowledge about their formation may contribute to the quality control of sake. We analyzed rice protein hydrolysates in sake mash, as well as in the enzymatic digest of steamed rice grains digested by either sake-koji or by crude enzyme extracted from sake-koji. SDS–PAGE showed that a smaller amount of polypeptides (> M.W. 10,000) accumulated in the supernatant of sake mash than in either enzymatic digest. The concentration of peptides in the supernatant of sake mash increased gradually from the early stages of fermentation. Five bitter-tasting peptides (No. 9, < QLFNPS; No. 13, < QLFNPSTNP; No. 17, < QLFNPSTNPWH; No. 18, < QLFNPSTNPWHSP; No. 20, < QLFGPNVNPWHNP), which were previously found in sake mash, were not found in significant amounts in sake-koji. On the other hand, these peptides accumulated at the early stages of both sake mash fermentation and the enzymatic digests, although the levels in sake mash were higher than those in the digests. The present study demonstrated that the 5 bitter-tasting peptides formed in high concentrations when steamed rice grains were digested under conditions of sake mash fermentation with yeast.     

哈维氏弧菌磷脂酶D对不同磷脂单分子层的吸附动力学研究

基于单分子层技术研究了哈维氏弧菌来源磷脂酶D(Vh PLD)对不同磷脂单分子层的吸附动力学。探究初始表面压力条件对VhPLD吸附不同磷脂单分子层(磷脂酰胆碱(PC)、磷脂酰乙醇胺(PE)、磷脂酰丝氨酸(PS)、磷脂酰甘油(PG)和磷脂酰肌醇(PI))吸附动力学参数(k_a、k_d、K_(Ads))的影响规律。结果表明:VhPLD对磷脂单分子层的吸附动力学参数与磷脂单分子层初始表面压力密切相关;在15 m N/m条件下,VhPLD对不同磷脂单分子层吸附偏好性顺序为PC PG PS PE=PI;在20 m N/m条件下,VhPLD对不同磷脂单分子层吸附偏好性顺序为PG PI PC PS PE;在25 m N/m条件下,VhPLD对不同磷脂单分子层吸附偏好性顺序则转变为PC PS PI PE=PG。     

养殖大黄鱼各部位磷脂组分及其脂肪酸组成分析

为明确大黄鱼各部位磷脂组分及其脂肪酸组成,本实验选取大黄鱼头部、背肌、腹肌、内脏、尾部以及鱼卵为研究对象,分别测定各部位的磷脂含量、组分及其脂肪酸组成。结果表明:鱼卵中磷脂含量最高,为5.50 g/100 g。头部、背肌和腹肌磷脂组分一致,为溶血磷脂酰胆碱(LPC)和磷脂酰胆碱(PC);头部磷脂中LPC和PC的含量分别为39.23%、45.12%,背部分别为62.74%、36.12%,腹部分别为66.69%、33.31%。内脏磷脂组分为溶血磷脂酰胆碱(LPC)、磷脂酰肌醇(PI)和鞘氨醇磷脂(SM),含量分别为59.37%、12.77%、29.83%。鱼尾磷脂为LPC、PC和磷脂酰乙醇胺(PE),含量分别为21.41%、59.37%、19.22%。鱼卵磷脂为LPC、PI、PE和PC,含量分别为12.30%、1.09%、9.12%、76.36%。脂肪酸组成分析表明大黄鱼各部位富含多不饱和脂肪酸,其中鱼卵磷脂中多不饱和脂肪酸占比43.1%,明显优于大黄鱼其他各部位。研究结果说明大黄鱼是一种富含磷脂功能因子的海洋鱼类。