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News — STA1

What is the STA-1 gene in some yeast strains?

Posted by Dean Rowan on

What is the STA-1 gene in some yeast strains?

STA-1 is a marker in yeast that indicates it has mutated or become a diastaticus variant of the normal Saccharomyces Cerevisiae. Once detected in a yeast strain, the strain is then properly identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae variant Diastaticus What is Diastaticus? The presence of the STA1 gene causes the yeast to secrete glucoamylase, an enzyme which hydrolyzes dextrins and starches into fermentable sugars. The yeast is now a “hyperattenuator” as it ferments beer beyond what ordinary brewer’s yeast is capable. It's often considered to be a beer spoiler or “wild yeast”, as it causes unwanted secondary fermentations in packaged commercial beer. The...

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