Open AccessMicrobiology of the malolactic fermentation: Molecular aspects
Author(s) -
LonvaudFunel Aline
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1995.tb07420.x
Subject(s) - malolactic fermentation , winemaking , wine , lactic acid , bacteria , starter , fermentation , wine fault , ethanol fermentation , malic acid , food science , biology , chemistry , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , citric acid
Malolactic fermentation conducted by lactic acid bacteria follows alcoholic fermentation during winemaking, and several positive effects make it indispensable for most wines. Research has focused on the growth and physiology of lactic acid bacteria in wine; resulting in the design of malolactic starter cultures. Future work on these starters will concentrate on aromatic changes as additional criteria for strain selection. Although the main features of the malolactic enzyme and its gene are known, the detailed mechanism of the malolactic reaction remains unclear. Cloning and expression of this activity in enological strains of Saccharomyces cereuisiae might be one of the next most important advances in the control of malic acid degradation in wine.