The Potential of Confocal Imaging for Measuring Physiological Changes in Brewer’s Yeast
Cornelia Schlee1, Michaela Miedl1, Kenneth A. Leiper1 and Graham G. Stewart1, 2
1 The International Centre for Brewing and Distilling, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, United Kingdom.
2 Corresponding author. E-mail: G.G.Stewart@hw.ac.uk
J. Inst. Brew. 112(2), 134–147, 2006 | VIEW ARTICLE
ABSTRACT
This study focused on the implementation of fluorescence optical methods and laser scanning confocal microscopy for monitoring brewing yeast performance. Physiological parameters and cell compounds in yeast cells (glycogen, neutral lipids, trehalose, bud scars, DNA and intracellular proteinases) have been successfully visualised with the aid of highly specific fluorochromes. The expression and sub cellular localisation of pro-teinase A during fermentation has been studied employing a Saccharomyces cerevisiae green fluorescent protein clone. This novel approach to monitoring brewing yeast performance pro-vides new insights into physiological events that occur during wort fermentation.
Key words:
Brewing, confocal imaging, fluorescence micros-copy, glycogen, proteinase, trehalose, yeast.
Publication no. G-2006-0710-452 ©2006 The Institute & Guild of Brewing