Effects of a β-glucanase enzymatic preparation on yeast lysis during aging of traditional sparkling wines

- We evaluate the use of Lallzyme MMX® β-glucanase in traditional sparkling wines.
- We characterize the β-glucanase activity and its interaction with two yeast strains.
- Enzyme activity is slightly inhibited by ethanol but enhances in the presence of yeast.
- We monitor the influence on yeast lysis during 12 months of sparkling wines aging.
- The β-glucanase improves yeast autolysis, with strain-dependent effects.

Scientific researches on characterization of the commercial enological preparation of Lallzyme MMX® containing β-glucanase and its influence on autolysis of different yeast strains typically employed in the production of sparkling wine are lacking. The aim of the present work was to plug a gap in this field, studying the β-glucanase activity of Lallzyme MMX® and its interactions with BCS103® and EC1118® yeast strains. The results showed that β-glucanase was slightly inhibited by ethanol, but its residual activity at wine pH was sufficient for the purposes. Kinetic parameters showed a better enzyme-substrate complex formation for the EC1118® strain. The influence on yeast lysis during 12 months of bottle-aging was monitored, demonstrating that enzyme addition did not substantially influence either the content and progression of total proteins, or foam characteristics. However, scanning and transmission electron microscopy images and free amino acid analysis indicated β-glucanase improved cell wall degradation of both selected yeasts, evidencing a lower autolytic capacity of the BCS103® strain. Our study demonstrated that addition of β-glucanase catalyzed cell disorganization and promoted release of yeast components into sparkling wine, with strain-dependent effects. Therefore, employment of β-glucanase rich Lallzyme MMX® might effectively accelerate some aging characteristics of traditional sparkling wines.