Institute for Wine Biotechnology

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Browsing Institute for Wine Biotechnology by Author "Bayly, Jennifer Carr,1977-"

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    Manipulating the levels of ethyl acetate and isoamyl acetate formation during the production of wine and brandy
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2002-12) Bayly, Jennifer Carr,1977-; Du Toit, M.; Pretorius, I. S.; Lambrechts, M. G.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Viticulture and Oenology. Institute for Wine Biotechnology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The production of wine is a complex process, which involves the conversion of sugar in grape must to ethanol, carbon dioxide and other byproducts. The principal organism in winemaking is yeast, of which Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the most important due to its ability to survive winemaking conditions, its GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) status and the favourable flavours it imparts during the winemaking process. However, due to the demands of the consumer and the emergence of sophisticated wine markets, a demand is developing for specialised yeast strains with enhanced and new oenological properties. For these reasons, research into the contribution of wine yeast to the aroma bouquet as well the influence of wine or brandy maturation in wood on the aroma bouquet is important for consumer demands to be met. The fruity aroma of wine is associated with esters, which are produced during the alcoholic fermentation by yeast. Important acetate esters in wine and brandy are ethyl acetate, which has a fruity, solvent-like aroma, and isoamyl acetate, which has a banana-like aroma. These esters are produced through the action of acetyltransferases (AATases), which catalyse the reaction between a higher alcohol and acyl Coenzyme A. Esters are mainly a product of alcoholic fermentation. However, their concentration changes during wood maturation and it has been found that the concentration of acetate esters can increase during the maturation period. In this study, the aim was to investigate the influence of AATase I and AATase II, which are encoded by the ATF1 and ATF2 genes respectively, on the aroma bouquet of wine and brandy. Therefore, the first objective of this study was to clone the ATF2 gene from a commercial wine yeast strain and to overexpress this gene in a commercial wine yeast strain and in a wine yeast strain that already has the A TF1 gene overexpressed. Disruption cassettes were also designed in order to disrupt the ATF1 and ATF2 genes in a commercial wine yeast strain. The resultant recombinant wine yeast strains were used for the production of wine and brandy. GC analyses and tasting trials were conducted to determine the effect of the overexpression or disruption of these genes on the aroma bouquet of wine. The results obtained indicated that there are differences in the aroma bouquet of wine and brandy when changes are made in gene expression. The results indicated that the A TF1 gene plays a large role in the production of ethyl and isoamyl acetate. When this gene was overexpressed, the level of ethyl acetate was 5.6-fold more than that of the control and the level of isoamyl acetate was 3.5-fold higher than that of the control. However, no increase in ethyl acetate or isoamyl acetate was observed when the A TF2 gene was overexpressed. An increase in 2-phenylethyl acetate and diethyl succinate was observed in brandy, although there was a decrease in total ester concentration. A decrease in acetic acid was also observed in the brandy produced, which could be an indication of ester production. Similarly, no increase in ethyl acetate or isoamyl acetate was observed in the wine or brandy produced when both the ATF1 and ATF2 genes were overexpressed in a single yeast. Once again, a marked decrease was observed in acetic acid concentration in both the wine and brandy. In conclusion, it is clear that changes in gene expression can change the aroma profile of wine or brandy. However, the role of the ATF2 gene still remains unclear and further studies are needed to clarify its role in yeast. Future studies involving the effect of wood maturation on ester concentration will also be of importance, so that the winemaker or distiller can make a product that suits the ever-changing market.