A preliminary search for anthocyanin-β-D-glucosidase activity in non-<i>Saccharomyces</i> wine yeasts

Abstract

Abstract β-D-glucosidase activity in 53 yeast strains belonging to the genera Candida, Dekkera, Hanseniaspora, Metschnikowia, Pichia, Rhodotorula, Schizosaccharomyces and Zygosaccharomyces, mainly isolated from grapes and wines, has been detected on the basis of its hydrolytic activity on 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-D-glucoside (MUG) and ρ-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucoside (pNPG). Only yeast species belonging to the genera Dekkera, Rhodotorula and Schizosaccharomyces did not produce the enzyme. The nine yeast strains demonstrating greatest β-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 and exhibited mainly cell wall bound activity. Anthocyanin-β-D-glucosidase activity was checked using an anthocyanin extract by following loss of absorbance at 520 nm. Whilst the nine yeast strains studied degraded the anthocyanin extract, H’spora osmophila 11207 and P. anomala 10590 were selected as the best producers of β-D-glucosidase with the lowest decolorizing activity.