C. Ivorra et al., An inverse correlation between stress resistance and stuck fermentations in wine yeasts. A molecular study, BIOTECH BIO, 64(6), 1999, pp. 698-708
During alcoholic fermentations yeast cells are subjected to several stress
conditions and, therefore, yeasts have developed molecular mechanisms in or
der to resist this adverse situation. The mechanisms involved in stress res
ponse have been studied in Saccharomyces cerevisiae laboratory strains. How
ever a better understanding of these mechanisms in wine yeasts could open t
he possibility to improve the fermentation process. In this work an analysi
s of the stress response in three wine yeasts has been carried out by study
ing the expression of several representative genes under several stress con
ditions which occur during fermentation. We propose a simplified method to
study how these stress conditions affect the viability of yeast cells. Usin
g this approach an inverse correlation between stress-resistance and stuck
fermentations has been found. We also have preliminary data about the use o
f the HSP12 gene as a molecular marker for stress-resistance in wine yeasts
. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.