Cinnamyl esterase

The occurrence of unwanted side activities in commercial pectinase preparations has been reported, and represents one of the main problems associated with their use in winemaking. Notably, increased formation of methanol during fermentation has been observed in association with pectinase treatment of the juice, due to pectin-methyl esterase activity (Revilla and Gonzdlez-SanJose 1998). Cinnamyl esterase... 

The use of certain pectolytic enzyme preparations to facilitate the extraction or clarification of white must may lead to an increase in the vinyl-phenol content of white wines and a deterioration of their aromatic qualities (Chatonnet et al 1992a Dugelay etal., 1993 Barbe, 1995). Indeed, certain industrial pectinases, made from Aspergillus niger cultures, have a cinnamyl esterase (CE) activity. This enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of tartrate esters of hydroxycinnamic acids in must during the pre-fermentation phase (Figure 8.7). Feruhc and j9-coumaric acids are then converted into vinyl-phenols during alcohohc fermentation due to the cinnamate decarboxylase activity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 

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