Effect of L-malic and citric acids metabolism on the essential amino acid requirements for Oenococcus oeni growth.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this work was to study the effect of L-malic and/or citric acids on Oenococcus oeni m growth in deficient nutritional conditions, and their roles as possible biosynthetic precursors of the essential amino acids.


RESULTS
Bacterial cultures were performed in synthetic media. Bacterial growth rate was reduced or annulled when one amino acid was omitted from basal medium, especially for members of aspartate family, except lysine. The organic acids increased or restored the growth rates to the respective reference values. In each medium deficient in one essential amino acid, the L-malic acid utilization was accompanied by an increase of L-lactic acid concentration and accounted for approximately 100%l-malic acid consumed. D-lactic acid formation from glucose decreased in the medium without cysteine. Except for tyrosine, the recovery of glucose-citrate as D-lactic acid was lower than in the complete medium when asparagine, isoleucine or cysteine were excluded. The ethanol and acetate production was not modified.


CONCLUSIONS
L-malic and citric acids favoured Oenococcus oeni m growth in nutritional stress conditions. Specifically citric acid was involved in the biosynthesis of the aspartate-derived essential amino acids and glucose in the cysteine biosynthesis.


CONCLUSIONS
Such beneficial effect of l-malic and citric acids on amino acids requirements of Oenococcus oeni m have great significance considering the low amino acids concentration in wine.
Saguir
F M
FM
Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina.
Manca de Nadra
M C
MC
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D003470:Culture Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D006095:Gram-Positive Cocci / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D007934:Leuconostoc / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008293:Malates / Q000378:metabolism*; D014920:Wine / Q000382:microbiology*
D000596:Amino Acids; D003470:Culture Media; D008293:Malates; D019343:Citric Acid; C030298:malic acid