terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 CHANGES IN METABOLIC FLUXES UNDER LOW PH GROWTH CONDITIONS: CAN THE SLOWDOWN OF CITRATE CONSUMPTION IMPROVE OENOCOCCUS OENI ACID-TOLERANCE?

CHANGES IN METABOLIC FLUXES UNDER LOW PH GROWTH CONDITIONS: CAN THE SLOWDOWN OF CITRATE CONSUMPTION IMPROVE OENOCOCCUS OENI ACID-TOLERANCE?

Abstract

Oenococcus oeni is the main Lactic Acid Bacteria responsible for malolactic fermentation, converting malic acid into lactic acid and carbon dioxide in wines. Following the alcoholic fermentation, this second fermentation ensures a deacidification and remains essential for the release of aromatic notes and the improvement of microbial stability in many wines. Nevertheless, wine is a harsh environment for microbial growth, especially because of its low pH (between 2.9 and 3.6 depending on the type of wine) and nutrient deficiency. In order to maintain homeostasis and ensure viability, O. oeni possesses different cellular mechanisms including organic acid metabolisms which represent also the major pathway to synthetize energy in wine. Indeed, uptake and consumption of malate and citrate by this bacteria enables to activate a proton motive force (PMF) hence maintaining an intracellular pH by proton consumption1,2.

Citrate is found in wine at small concentrations (0.13 to 0.90 g/L). It can be metabolized by O. oeni into acetate, pyruvate and then aromatic compounds such as diacetyl, acetoin and 2,3-butanediol. The ability of citrate metabolism to activate the PMF could play a central role in the acid-tolerance of this bacterium. Nevertheless, a previous study has described an inhibition of O. oeni growth at low pH in presence of high amounts of citrate3. This toxic effect could come from the synthesis of one of the citrate metabolites as acetate.

In order to understand how citrate metabolism can be linked to acid tolerance of this bacterium, consumption of citrate was investigated in a great diversity of O. oeni strains. In addition, malate and sugar consumptions were also followed, as they can be impacted by citrate metabolism. These experiments enabled to draw metabolic fluxes in O. oeni according to the pH of the medium. In most cases, ma- late is first metabolized, then citrate and sugars, sequentially, proving that the priority is given to organic acid consumption at the expense of sugars in this bacterium. However, this experiment revealed different citrate consumption profiles which may be correlated to a greater or lesser acid tolerance according to the strain. Furthermore, a genomic comparison demonstrated the presence of mutations in the citrate operon of acid-tolerant industrial strains. Hence, acid tolerance could be linked to a change in the rate of citrate consumption in O. oeni.

 

1. Ramos, A., Poolman, B., Santos, H., Lolkema, J.S., Konings, W.N., 1994. Uniport of anionic citrate and proton consumption in ci-trate metabolism generates a proton motive force in Leuconostoc oenos. J. Bacteriol. 176, 4899–4905. https://doi.org/10.1128/jb.176.16.4899-4905.1994
2. Salema, M., Lolkema, J.S., Romão, M.V.S., Dias, M.C.L., 1996. The proton motive force generated in Leuconostoc oenos by L-malate fermentation. J. Bacteriol. 178, 3127–3132. https://doi.org/10.1128/jb.178.11.3127-3132.1996
3. Augagneur, Y., Ritt, J.-F., Linares, D.M., Remize, F., Tourdot-Maréchal, R., Garmyn, D., Guzzo, J., 2007. Dual effect of organic acids as a function of external pH in Oenococcus oeni. Arch. Microbiol. 188, 147–157. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-007-0230-0

DOI:

Publication date: February 9, 2024

Issue: OENO Macrowine 2023

Type: Article

Authors

Camille Eicher1, Joana Coulon2, Marion Favier2, Edouard Munier1, Thierry Tran1, Hervé Alexandre1, Cristina Reguant Miran-da3, Cosette Grandvalet1

1. UMR A. 02.102 Procédés Alimentaires et Microbiologiques, L’institut Agro Dijon, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
2. BioLaffort, Floirac, France
3. Departament de Bioquímica i Biotecnologia, Facultat d’Enologia, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain

Contact the author*

Keywords

Oenococcus oeni, Citrate, Metabolic fluxes, Acid-tolerance

Tags

IVES Conference Series | oeno macrowine 2023 | oeno-macrowine

Citation

Related articles…

EFFECTS OF LEAF REMOVAL AT DIFFERENT BUNCHES PHENOLOGICAL STAGES ON FREE AND GLYCOCONJUGATE AROMAS OF SKINS AND PULPS OF TWO ITALIAN RED GRAPES

Canopy-management practices are applied in viticulture to improve berries composition and quality, having a great impact on primary and secondary grape metabolism. Among these techniques, cluster zone leaf removal (defoliation) is widely used to manage air circulation, temperature and light radiation of grape bunches and close environment. Since volatiles are quantitatively and qualitatively influenced by the degree of fruit ripeness, the level of solar exposure, and the thermal environment in which grapes ripen, leaf removal has been shown to affect volatile composition of grape berries [1].

CHEMICAL DRIVERS OF POSITIVE REDUCTION IN NEW ZEALAND CHARDONNAY WINES

According to winemakers, wine experts and sommeliers, aromas of wet stone, mineral, struck match and flint in white wines styles, such as those produced from Vitis vinifera L. cv. Chardonnay, are considered to be hallmarks of positive reduction.1,2 In recent years, the production of Chardonnay styles defined by aroma characteristics related to positive reduction has become more desirable among wine experts and consumers. The chemical basis of positive reduction is thought to originate from the concentration of specific volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), including methanethiol (MeSH) imparting mineral and chalk notes,3 and benzenemethanethiol (BMT) responsible for struck match and flint.1,4

EFFECT OF FUMARIC ACID ON SPONTANEOUS FERMENTATION IN GRAPE MUST

Malolactic fermentation (MLF)¹, the decarboxylation of L-malic acid into L-lactic acid, is performed by lactic acid bacteria (LAB). MLF has a deacidifying effect that may compromise freshness or microbiological stability in wines² and can be inhibited by fumaric acid [E297] (FA). In wine, can be added at a maximum allowable dose of 0.6 g/L³. Its inhibition with FA is being studied as an alternative strategy to minimize added doses of SO₂⁴. In addition, wine yeasts are capable of metabolizing and storing small amounts of FA and during alcoholic fermentation (AF).

RED WINE AGING THROUGH 1H-NMR METABOLOMICS

Premium red wines are often aged in oak barrel. This widespread winemaking process is used, among others, to provide roundness and complexity to the wine. The study of wine evolution during barrel aging is crucial to better ensure control of wine quality.
¹H-NMR has already been proved to be an efficient tool to monitor winemaking process [1]. Indeed, it is a non-destructive technique, it requires a small amount of sample and a short time of analysis, yet it provides clues about several chemical families.

SENSORY IMPROVEMENT OF DEALCOHOLISED WINES

Interest and willing-ness to buy alcohol-free wines by customers is increasing for several years [1]. Due to the rising relevance of dealcoholised wines it is the objective of this study to contribute to a better understanding of the flavor variation among dealcoholised wines and to explore enological measures, how to improve final quality.
First a range of commercial, alcoholfree white wines were analysed by the holistic sensory method projective mapping, including a question for hedonic acceptance. Based on the combination of a non-target-HS-SPME-GC/MS analysis with sensory analysis we obtained a clustering of the wines into three groups.