Exploring Lachancea thermotolerans biodiversity: insights into lactic acid production and carbon metabolism in response to oxygen availability.

Oxygen availability significantly influences carbon metabolism and lactic acid production in Lachancea thermotolerans, with continuous aerobic conditions boosting biomass and reducing lactic acid yields.

• Why it matters: Controlling lactic acid production in L. thermotolerans is crucial for maintaining wine acidity amid climate change, but its metabolic variability hampers reliable bio-acidification strategies.
• What they did: The study examined three genetically distinct strains under different oxygenation regimes, analyzing fermentation performance, metabolite fluxes, and carbon recovery to understand metabolic shifts.
• The result: Findings reveal oxygen modulates metabolic fluxes and lactic acid production, with oxygen timing and intensity affecting outcomes, laying groundwork for optimized fermentation control methods.