Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal: Journal of Applied Microbiology

ISSN: 1364-5072

eISSN: 1365-2672

Open access status: Bronze

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1093/jambio/lxac078

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Abstract: 
Aims Volatile thiols are very potent aroma molecules that contribute to the aroma of many beverages. The characteristic thiols of certain wine varieties such as Sauvignon blanc are partly released during the yeast-based fermentation from plant-synthesized glutathione- or cysteine-conjugated and dipeptic precursors present in the must. In this work, we aimed at the construction and characterization of yeast strains with the ability to synthesize volatile thiols from respective precursors. Methods and Results Besides genome integration of the Escherichia coli gene tnaA, which encodes an enzyme with high beta-lyase activity, a glutathione synthetase and glutathione-S-transferases were overexpressed. Up to 8.9 mu g L-1 3-mercaptohexan-1-ol could be formed with the strain from externally added trans-2-hexen-1-ol. Well-characterized thiols such as 2-methyl-2-butanethiol, 3-mercapto-3-methylbutan-1-ol, and 8-mercapto-p-menthan-3-one, as well as several so far undescribed thiol compounds could be synthesized. Conclusion Volatile thiols could be produced by feeding alcohol, alkenol, aldehyde, or ketone precursors like trans-2-hexenal, trans-2-hexen-1-ol, cis-2-hexen-1-ol, 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol, 3-buten-2-one, and pulegone to the optimized yeast cells.

Harvard Citation style: Graf, F. and Buchhaupt, M. (2022) Engineering volatile thiol formation in yeast, Journal of Applied Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.1093/jambio/lxac078

APA Citation style: Graf, F., & Buchhaupt, M. (2022). Engineering volatile thiol formation in yeast. Journal of Applied Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.1093/jambio/lxac078