RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A Comparison of Lactic Acid Bacteria for Energy-Yielding (ATP) Malolactic Enzyme Systems
JF American Journal of Enology and Viticulture
JO Am J Enol Vitic.
FD American Society for Enology and Viticulture
SP 215
OP 218
DO 10.5344/ajev.1990.41.3.215
VO 41
IS 3
A1 Donald J. Cox
A1 Thomas Henick-Kling
YR 1990
UL http://www.ajevonline.org/content/41/3/215.abstract
AB The malolactic fermentation has been shown to be an energy-yielding process in six strains of lactic acid bacteria which contain the full malolactic enzyme system. The mechanism for this reaction is chemiosmotic. A mutant strain with a defective malolactic enzyme did not produce ATP during malate catabolism; the parent strain did produce ATP during malate catabolism. A strain of Lactobacillus plantarum that is naturally malolactic-deficient does not produce ATP when given L-malate as a substrate. The data support the hypothesis that the malolactic enzyme system has evolved as an energy-producing mechanism for lactic acid bacteria adapted to the low pH of wine.