Molecular Polymorphism of Pectinase Genes PGU of Saccharomyces bayanus var. uvarum Yeast

A molecular genetic study of pectinase PGU genes from 74 strains of the yeast Saccharomyces bayanus var. uvarum isolated from various fermentation processes and natural sources in different regions of Europe and the United States has been performed. Unlike the S. cerevisiae yeasts, each having a single PGU gene, the S. bayanus var. uvarum strains have three divergent genes, PGU1b , PGU2b , and PGU3b , which are located respectively on chromosomes X, I, and XIV. The high pectinolytic activity of these yeasts appears to be related to the presence of several PGU polymeric genes in their genomes.