Formation of Volatile Sulfur-Containing Compounds by Saccharomyces cerevisiae in Soymilk Supplemented with L-methionine

Abstract

The formation of volatile sulfur-containing flavor compounds from L-methionine catabolism by Saccharomyces cerevisiae EC-1118 was investigated in soymilk supplemented with this sulfur-containing amino acid with a focus on methionol (3-methylthio-1-propanol). Methionol produced from L-methionine metabolism of yeast in soymilk was extracted by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The effects of time (0 – 72 h), L-methionine concentration (0.05–0.20%), yeast extract concentration (0.00–0.30%), initial medium pH (4.5–6.9), and temperature (25–34°C) on the production of methionol were investigated. One-liter scale-up fermentation of soymilk by Saccharomyces cerevisiae EC-1118 was conducted for 48 h under static conditions with 0.15% of L-methionine, 0.10% of yeast extract, initial medium pH of 5.5, and temperature of 25°C, yielding 190 ppm of methionol. GC-olfactometry dilution analysis was conducted on extracts of the fermented soymilk, and no single compound was found to account for the overall odor perception. Methional (3-methylthio-1-propanal) and methionol were determined to be most potent odor-active compounds in the fermented soymilk. The fermented soy milk may serve as a complex sulfur flavor concentrate for applications in foods such as fermented soy products, enzyme-modified, and imitation cheeses.

Keywords:

• methionol
• methional
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae
• sulfur
• soymilk

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This work was partially supported by Singapore MOE ARF (Project No. R-143-000-385-112).