O-16

Benefits of measuring adenylate kinase in commercial brewing.
A. CAMERON-CLARKE, G. A. Hulse, L. Clifton, and I. C. Cantrell. South African Breweries, Research and Development Department, P.O. Box 782178, Sandton, 2146 South Africa.

Adenylate kinase (AK) is a yeast intracellular enzyme which can be measured with a very high degree of sensitivity. Detection of extracellular AK activity in yeast preparations is thus an indication of impaired membrane integrity. Because of its sensitivity, the test can be applied to a wide range of conditions under which yeast is assessed. The presentation will illustrate the application of this test to assess yeast membrane status in the following areas: As a tool for yeast selection, impact of yeast membrane status on foam, and impact of yeast handling and process conditions on yeast membrane status.

Anna Cameron-Clarke graduated with a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1980. She worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Biochemistry, investigating the relationship between sucrose in the diet and lipoprotein synthesis in rats until 1984 when she was appointed to the lecturing staff in the same department. She remained there until 1998, her interest being mainly in metabolism. In 1998 she joined the Research and Development Department of the South Africa Breweries and is currently working in the Yeast and Fermentation Research Group.

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