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Professor TAKEGAWA Kaoru and his research group have developed a method to dramatically improve the efficiency of selecting superior sake yeast strains using metabolome analysis
It is now possible to breed yeast strains suitable for high-quality sake brewing.
POINT
- Until now, breeding sake yeast strains has required a significant amount of time and effort during the selection process.
- The introduction of metabolome analysis of Sake(※1) (brewed sake metabolite analysis method) has revealed that the selection process for target yeast strains can be dramatically improved in efficiency (Patent Application 2023-151687).
- The sake yeast developed as a result of joint research with the National Research Institute of Brewing is already being used in the production of products by Kitaya Co., Ltd.
SUMMARY
Currently, the use of genetic modification techniques to adjust the production of specific components in sake yeast is restricted in the field of sake brewing. Therefore, in sake yeast breeding, methods such as UV irradiation and mutagen treatment are widely used to create strains with random genetic mutations, from which strains with desired characteristics are selected. However, this method often results in changes to properties other than the desired traits. To select superior strains from the mutants, it is necessary to conduct sake brewing tests on a large number of candidate strains and analyze their components in detail, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive.
In response to this challenge, a research team consisting of Professor TAKEGAWA Kaoru from the Faculty of Agriculture at Kyushu University, Ms. KINOSHITA Risako (1st-year PhD student), and Mr. IWASHITA Kazuhiro and Mr. KANAI Muneyoshi from the National Research Institute of Brewing, developed a novel selection method utilizing metabolome analysis. This method involves culturing numerous genetic mutant strains derived from parent strains in a small amount of synthetic medium and comprehensively analyzing the cell extracts using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-Q/TOF-MS). As a result, by selecting yeast strains whose composition of metabolites, other than the desired traits, closely resembles that of the parent strain, it became possible to efficiently obtain yeast strains with only the desired traits modified, without performing genetic recombination.
As a result of this study, after a three-year research period, we successfully selected and developed four original yeast strains that meet the targets for key components such as aromatic compounds and organic acids, and possess sufficient brewing characteristics for practical application. These yeast strains are already being utilized in product manufacturing by Kitaya Co., Ltd.
The results of this study were published in the Japanese English-language journal "Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering" on December 2, 2024 (Monday) (Japan time).
Comment from Professor TAKEGAWA
In the past, sake production was limited to selecting the most ideal strains from a restricted range of sake yeasts, imposing many constraints on yeast breeding. The widespread adoption of the efficient yeast breeding method proposed in this study is expected to invigorate the modification of yeast capabilities by research institutions and sake manufacturers, thereby accelerating the development of new yeasts with ideal characteristics.
Furthermore, the diversification and enhancement of the value of sake are expected to significantly contribute to the expansion of the sake market both domestically and internationally. Additionally, through the development of unique sake, this method is anticipated to serve as a foundation for supporting further advancements while preserving and passing on the traditional sake brewing culture to future generations.
GLOSSARY
*1 Metabolome Analysis of Sake
A comprehensive analysis method aimed at understanding the overall composition of sake by simultaneously analyzing the diverse components (metabolites, metabolome) contained in sake using UPLC-QTOFMS (Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry) and performing statistical analysis on the component values.
Paper Information
Journal: Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering
Title: Efficient yeast breeding using a sake metabolome analysis for a strain evaluation
Authors: Risako Kinoshita, Muneyoshi Kanai, Kaoru Takegawa, Kazuhiro Iwashita
DOI：10.1016/j.jbiosc.2024.10.010
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