Expression levels and patterns of glycolytic yeast genes during wine fermentation

Promoters from glycolytic genes are widely used for gene overexpression in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Wine strains are not an exception, and genes of enological interest have been expressed in this way. However, the transcriptional pattern of glycolytic genes has never been studied during w ine fermentation. In this work we describe the levels and expression patter ns of glycolytic genes for a wine yeast strain during the alcoholic ferment ation of three different musts. Results show similar transcriptional patter ns for all genes studied: maximal levels of mRNA at the exponential growth stage, and a gradual decrease during the stationary phase, in accordance wi th the fermentation rates. The glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase gen es reache the highest transcriptional levels during wine fermentation, simi larly as previously described for laboratory strains and conditions.