Enzyme Explorer · Food & fermentation
ALDC
Use α-acetolactate decarboxylase to manage a diacetyl precursor during fermentation, with performance checked against the brewery’s flavour specification.
01 / Understand the chemistry
How does aldc work?
ALDC converts α-acetolactate directly to acetoin with release of carbon dioxide. It acts on a precursor; it is not an enzyme for directly removing diacetyl that is already present.
Reach the precursor
Addition timing must match formation and availability of α-acetolactate.
Process schematic · symbols represent substrates and products, rather than an atom-by-atom chemical structure.
02 / Select by outcome
ALDC applications in industry and research
Start with the result you need, then choose the enzyme grade and the measurement.
Reduce the risk of diacetyl formation from precursor.
MEASURE SUCCESSMeasure free and total potential diacetyl and assess sensory outcome.
PROCESS DECISIONCoordinate dose and timing with the yeast and fermentation programme.
Compare a new enzyme protocol with an untreated batch.
MEASURE SUCCESSFollow fermentation, flavour and maturation endpoints.
PROCESS DECISIONUse matched conditions and define the acceptance specification first.
Study precursor conversion and selectivity.
MEASURE SUCCESSMeasure α-acetolactate, acetoin and relevant coproducts.
PROCESS DECISIONDistinguish spontaneous precursor decay from the enzyme-catalysed route.
03 / Methods & measurement
How to measure aldc activity
Use a validated precursor-conversion or product assay for enzyme work. In brewing, a validated total-potential-diacetyl approach is more informative than checking free diacetyl alone.
Make a better selection
What matters when choosing a grade?
Existing diacetyl and newly generated precursor are different problems. Do not use ALDC treatment as a substitute for a validated fermentation and flavour release decision.
Confirm source, grade, activity method, formulation, storage and compatibility. Use stability data for the selected preparation; an optimum measured for one protein does not define every product’s operating window.
From screening to production
Plan a useful aldc trial
Set a matched control
Use your actual material. Keep pH, temperature, residence time and mixing identical in the untreated control, so physical processing effects are separated from enzyme action.
Screen dose and time
Compare a dose ladder and take a time course. State activity units and their assay definition, and express dose against a clear feedstock or process basis.
Validate the endpoint
Measure free and total potential diacetyl and assess sensory outcome. Assess retained activity, downstream quality and cost per useful outcome before increasing scale.
04 / Go deeper
ALDC guides and scientific resources
ExPASy ENZYME ↗
Accepted reaction and EC nomenclature. Reaction summaries adapted; CC BY 4.0.
BRENDA ↗
Organism-specific functional data and original literature references.
RCSB PDB ↗
Experimental structural record used in the molecular view.
UniProt ↗
Individual protein sequences and functional evidence.
ALDC: common selection questions
What does aldc produce?
ALDC converts α-acetolactate directly to acetoin with release of carbon dioxide. It acts on a precursor; it is not an enzyme for directly removing diacetyl that is already present.
How do I test aldc for my process?
Use a validated precursor-conversion or product assay for enzyme work. In brewing, a validated total-potential-diacetyl approach is more informative than checking free diacetyl alone.
What should I check before buying aldc?
Existing diacetyl and newly generated precursor are different problems. Do not use ALDC treatment as a substitute for a validated fermentation and flavour release decision. Share your feedstock, operating conditions, target outcome and required documentation when requesting a grade recommendation.
Discuss your aldc application
Tell us your substrate, process conditions and target outcome.