Pyruvate decarboxylase encoded by the PDC1 gene contributes, at least partially, to the decarboxylation of alpha-ketoisocaproate for isoamyl alcohol formation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Isoamyl alcohol is an important flavor component of yeast-fermented alcoholic beverages. To identify the enzyme and gene involved in the decarboxylation of alpha-ketoisocaproate (alpha-KIC) for isoamyl alcohol formation, the enzyme was partially purified and analyzed by mass spectrometry. The pyruvate decarboxylase encoded by the PDC1 gene was considered a likely candidate enzyme. Genetic analysis showed that the activity of alpha-KIC decarboxylase and production of isoamyl alcohol partially decreased in a pdc1 null mutant and increased in a transformant with a multi-copy plasmid carrying the PDC1 gene. These results indicate that pyruvate decarboxylase encoded by the PDC1 gene contributes, at least partially, to the decarboxylation of alpha-KIC for isoamyl alcohol formation.
Yoshimoto
H
H
Central Laboratories for Key Technology, Kirin Brewery Co. Ltd., 1-13-5 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-0004, Japan. hyoshimoto@kirin.co.jp
Fukushige
T
T
Yonezawa
T
T
Sakai
Y
Y
Okawa
K
K
Iwamatsu
A
A
Sone
H
H
Tamai
Y
Y