Efficient fermentation of very high-gravity worts by brewer's yeast with wheat gluten hydrolysates and their ultrafiltration fractions supplementations

Metabolomics analysis of osmotic tolerance enhancement mechanism of wheat gluten peptides on industrial yeast

Plant-derived wheat gluten peptides have an effective protective ability on industrial yeast against osmotic stress, the enhancement mechanism of osmotic tolerance in yeast by wheat gluten peptides addition was clarified in this study. Results showed that wheat gluten peptides addition increased the intracellular pH and trehalose levels of yeast under osmotic stress, compared to the control. Furthermore, peptides supplementation could regulate the antioxidant defense system and reduce the reactive oxygen species accumulation in yeast, including the increase of intracellular glutathione levels and the activities of antioxidant enzymes catalase and glutathione peroxidase. Metabolomic results indicated that the enhancement mechanism of wheat gluten peptides on yeast osmotic tolerance was related to the promotion of arginine and proline metabolism, pantothenate and coenzyme A biosynthesis, pyrimidine metabolism, and cysteine and methionine metabolism pathways. These results provide new insight into the enhancement mechanism of yeast stress tolerance by plant-derived peptides from a metabolic perspective.

Carbon and nitrogen sources consumption by ale and lager yeast strains: a comparative study during fermentation

The rapid and efficient consumption of carbon and nitrogen sources by brewer's yeast is critical for the fermentation process in the brewing industry. The comparison of the growth characterizations of typical ale and lager yeast, as well as their consumption preference to carbon and nitrogen sources were investigated in this study. Results showed that the ale strain grew faster and had a more extended stationary phase than the lager strain. However, the lager strain was more tolerant to the stressful environment in the later stage of fermentation. Meanwhile, the ale and lager yeast strains possessed varying preferences for metabolizing the specific fermentable sugar or free amino acid involved in the wort medium. The lager strain had a strong capacity to synthesize the extracellular invertase required for hydrolyzing sucrose as well as a strong capability to metabolize glucose and fructose. Furthermore, the lager strain had an advantage in consuming Lys, Arg, Val, and Phe, whereas the ale strain had a higher assimilation rate in consuming Tyr. These findings provide valuable insights into selecting the appropriate brewer's yeast strain based on the wort components for the industrial fermentation process. KEY POINTS: • The lager strain is more tolerant to the stressful environment. • The lager strain has the great capability to synthesize the extracellular invertase. • The assimilation efficiency of free amino acid varies between ale and lager.

Modification mechanism of protein in rice adjuncts upon extrusion and its effects on nitrogen conversion during mashing

The traditional production of wort with adjunct-introduced was achieved by double mashing procedure, which hindered the utilization of proteins in adjunct and led to a deficiency of nitrogen in wort. In this study, the modification mechanism of the extrusion pretreatment on the structure characterization of rice flour protein was investigated. The decoction mashing procedure was performed to enhance the nitrogen conversion of the extruded rice adjunct. Decreased solubility along with disrupted secondary and tertiary structures of rice protein were observed after extrusion. As a result, the total nitrogen, free amino nitrogen, and free amino acids content of wort with extruded rice adjunct-introduced were improved by 23.28 %, 34.67 %, and 7.33 %, respectively, which could be verified by the electrophoretic patterns of the wort protein. The application of extrusion as a pretreatment of adjuncts can promote the protein availability of adjuncts in the decoction mashing stage.

Wheat gluten hydrolysates promotes fermentation performance of brewer's yeast in very high gravity worts

The effects of wheat gluten hydrolysates (WGH) and their ethanol elution fractions obtained on XAD-16 resin on physiological activity and fermentation performance of brewer's yeast during very-high-gravity (VHG) worts fermentation were investigated. The results showed that the addition of WGH and their elution fractions in VHG worts significantly enhanced yeast biomass and viability, and further increased the fermentability, ethanol yield and productivity of yeast. Supplementation with 40% ethanol fraction exhibited the highest biomass (6.9 g/L dry cell), cell viability, fermentability (82.05%), ethanol titer (12.19%, v/v) and ethanol productivity during VHG worts fermentation. In addition, 40% ethanol fraction supplementation also caused the most consumption of amino acid and the highest accumulation of intracellular glycerol and trehalose, 15.39% of increase in cell-membrane integrity, 39.61% of enhancement in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and 18.94% of reduction in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in yeast under VHG conditions. Therefore, WGH supplementation was an efficient method to improve fermentation performance of brewer's yeast during VHG worts.

Tartary buckwheat protein hydrolysates enhance the salt tolerance of the soy sauce fermentation yeast Zygosaccharomyces rouxii

Supplementation of protein hydrolysate is an important strategy to improve the salt tolerance of soy sauce aroma-producing yeast. In the present study, Tartary buckwheat protein hydrolysates (BPHs) were prepared and separated by ultrafiltration into LM-1 (<1 kDa) and HM-2 (1-300 kDa) fractions. The supplementation of HM-2 fraction could significantly improve cell growth and fermentation of soy sauce aroma-producing yeast Zygosaccharomyces rouxii As2.180 under high salt (12%, w/w) conditions. However, the LM-1 fraction inhibited strain growth and fermentation. The addition of HM-2 promoted yeast cell accumulation of K⁺, removal of cytosolic Na⁺ and accumulation of glycerol. Furthermore, the HM-2 fraction improved the cell membrane integrity and mitochondrial membrane and decreased intracellular ROS accumulation of the strain. The above results indicated that the supplementation of BPHs with a molecular weight of 1-300 kDa is a potentially effective and feasible strategy for improving the salt tolerance of soy sauce aroma-producing yeast Z. rouxii.

Cellular mechanism for the improvement of multiple stress tolerance in brewer's yeast by potassium ion supplementation

The ethanol fermentation efficiency was affected by multiple stress tolerance of yeast during brewing and bioethanol industry. The effect of KCl on the multiple stress tolerance of yeast cells was examined. Results showed that KCl addition significantly enhanced the tolerance of yeast cells to osmotic and ethanol stress, which correlated with the decreased membrane permeability, the increased intracellular ergosterol and ATP content, and the improved activity of complex II and complex III in yeast cells. Biomass and viability of yeast cells under osmotic and ethanol stress were increased significantly by KCl addition. Supplementation of 4 and 10 g L−1 KCl exhibited the best promotion activity for yeast cells present in medium with 500 g L−1 sucrose and 10% (v v−1) ethanol, respectively. These results suggested that exogenous potassium addition might be an effective strategy to improve yeast tolerance and fermentation efficiency during industrial very‐high‐gravity (VHG) fermentation.