13,701
edits
Changes
new section "Carbohydrate Metabolism"
==Metabolism==
===Lactic Acid Production===
[[File:Pedio sugars.JPG|thumb|300right|Pedio fermentables <ref>Wine Microbiology. Practical Applications and Procedures. Kenneth C. Fugelsang, Charles G. Edwards.</ref>]]
About 90% of sugar metabolized by ''Pediococcus'' produces lactic acid. It does so by homolactic fermentation producing primarily lactic acid (same EMP pathway as [[Lactobacillus#Types_of_Metabolism|''Lactobacillus'' homolactic fermentation]]), although some species/strains can convert glycerol to lactic acid, acetic acid, acetoin, and CO2 under aerobic conditions (''P. damnosus'' is not in this category) <ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=1b1CAgAAQBAJ&pg=RA2-PA1&lpg=RA2-PA1&dq=pediococcus+damnosus+homolactic&source=bl&ots=myI2alVB78&sig=cG-yWB4GuABQFEtqD2CAyKmU0TE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CEAQ6AEwBGoVChMI66C5593-xgIVCVKICh3Pcg7c#v=onepage&q=pediococcus%20damnosus%20homolactic&f=false Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology. Pediococcus. Carl A. Batt. Academic Press, Sep 28, 1999 .]</ref>. ''P. damnosus'' can ferment glucose, sucrose, and galactose. Some strains of ''P. damnosus'' can ferment maltose and sucrose <ref name="ucdavis"></ref>. The disaccharide trehalose is the preferred carbon source for Pediococci <ref name="Geissler"></ref>.
===Carbohydrate Metabolism===
While simple sugars are the primary food source for ''Pediococcus'', many strains of ''P. damnosus'' have been observed to produce both alpha and beta-glucosidase enzymes. Alpha-glucosidase enzymes have the ability to break down higher chain sugars, include dextrins, starches, and glucans (including glucans that are produced by ''P. damnosus'' and result in ropy beer). The types of beta-glucosidase enzymes produced by ''P. damnosus'' are thought to perhaps play a role in breaking down monoglycosidic bonds (see [[Glycosides]]), but cannot break down the more complex diglycosidic bonds which are needed to break down many glycosides that would release flavor and aroma compounds. Compared to the microbe ''Oenococcus oeni'' which is often used in wine and cider fermentation (malolactic fermentation) and has been shown to have more impactful beta-glucosidase activity, ''P. damnosus'' is thought to be less impactful on glyosides. Unlike ''O. oeni'' which decreases its enzymatic activity in low pH conditions, enzymatic activity of ''P. damnosus'' is very stable at a pH of 3-4 <ref>[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2672.2005.02707.x/full Screening of Lactobacillus spp. and Pediococcus spp. for glycosidase activities that are important in oenology. A. Grimaldi, E. Bartowsky, V. Jiranek. 2005. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2005.02707.x.]</ref>.
===Growth and Environment===