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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, July 2008, p. 4079-4090, Vol. 74, No. 13
0099-2240/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.00673-08
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Characterization of gtf, a Glucosyltransferase Gene in the Genomes of Pediococcus parvulus and Oenococcus oeni, Two Bacterial Species Commonly Found in Wine{triangledown}

Marguerite Dols-Lafargue,1* Hyo Young Lee,1 Claire Le Marrec,1 Alain Heyraud,2 Gérard Chambat,2 and Aline Lonvaud-Funel1

UMR 1219 Oenologie, Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, INRA, ISVV, 351 cours de la Libération, 33405 Talence, France,1 Centre de Recherche sur les Macromolécules Végétales-ICMG/CNRS, BP53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France2

Received 21 March 2008/ Accepted 1 May 2008

"Ropiness" is a bacterial alteration in wines, beers, and ciders, caused by β-glucan-synthesizing pediococci. A single glucosyltransferase, Gtf, controls ropy polysaccharide synthesis. In this study, we show that the corresponding gtf gene is also present on the chromosomes of several strains of Oenococcus oeni isolated from nonropy wines. gtf is surrounded by mobile elements that may be implicated in its integration into the chromosome of O. oeni. gtf is expressed in all the gtf+ strains, and β-glucan is detected in the majority of these strains. Part of this β-glucan accumulates around the cells forming a capsule, while the other part is liberated into the medium together with heteropolysaccharides. Most of the time, this polymer excretion does not lead to ropiness in a model medium. In addition, we show that wild or recombinant bacterial strains harboring a functional gtf gene (gtf+) are more resistant to several stresses occurring in wine (alcohol, pH, and SO2) and exhibit increased adhesion capacities compared to their gtf mutant variants.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: UMR 1219 Oenologie, LBMA, Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, INRA, ISVV, 351 cours de la Libération, 33405 Talence, France. Phone: 33 5 40 00 66 54. Fax: 33 5 40 00 64 68. E-mail: m.dols{at}istab.u-bordeaux1.fr

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 9 May 2008.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, July 2008, p. 4079-4090, Vol. 74, No. 13
0099-2240/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.00673-08
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Fernandez de Palencia, P., Werning, M. L., Sierra-Filardi, E., Duenas, M. T., Irastorza, A., Corbi, A. L., Lopez, P. (2009). Probiotic Properties of the 2-Substituted (1,3)-{beta}-D-Glucan-Producing Bacterium Pediococcus parvulus 2.6. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 75: 4887-4891 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Bon, E., Delaherche, A., Bilhere, E., De Daruvar, A., Lonvaud-Funel, A., Le Marrec, C. (2009). Oenococcus oeni Genome Plasticity Is Associated with Fitness. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 75: 2079-2090 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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