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 wine fermentation. In this work we describe the levels and expression patterns of glycolytic genes for a wine yeast strain during the alcoholic fermentation of three different musts. Results show similar transcriptional patterns for all genes studied: maximal levels of mRNA at the exponential growth stage, and a gradual decrease during the stationary phase, in accordance with the fermentation rates. The glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase genes reach the highest transcriptional levels during wine fermentation, similarly as previously described for laboratory strains and conditions.