A preliminary search for anthocyanin-beta-D-glucosidase activity in non-Saccharomyces wine yeasts

beta-D-glucosidase activity in 53 yeast strains belonging to the genera Can dida, Dekkera, Hanseniaspora, Metschnikowia, Pichia, Rhodotorula, Schizosac charomyces and Zygosnccharomyces, mainly isolated from grapes and wines, ha s been detected on the basis of its hydrolytic activity on 4-methylumbellif eryl-beta-D-glucoside (MUG) and rho-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucoside (pNPG). On ly yeast species belonging to the genera Dekkera, Rhodotorula and Schizosac charomyces did not produce the enzyme. The nine yeast strains demonstrating greatest beta-D-glucosidase activity on pNPG at pH 3.5 in the presence of 10% (v/v) ethanol belong to the genera Candida, Hanseniaspora and Pichia an d exhibited mainly cell wall bound activity. Anthocyanin-beta-D-glucosidase activity was, checked using an anthocyanin extract by following loss of ab sorbance at 520 nm. Whilst the nine yeast strains studied degraded the anth ocyanin extract, H'spora osmophila 11207 and P. anomala 10590 were selected as the best producers of beta-D-glucosidase with the lowest decolorizing a ctivity.