Work

Interaction-driven chorismate metabolic reprogramming underlies Bacillus–Pediococcus synergistic thermogenesis in high-temperature Daqu

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: High-temperature Daqu , the essential solid-state fermentation starter for premium sauce-flavor Baijiu , reaches a peak temperature of 60–65 °C driven by microbial metabolic heat; yet the detailed metabolic mechanism underlying the Bacillus – Pediococcus thermogenic synergy remains largely unresolved. This study integrated isothermal microcalorimetry, time-resolved transcriptomics, and untargeted metabolomics to decipher this cooperative thermogenesis under heat stress, with further validation in a simulated Daqu -making system. A network of metabolic interaction and flux redirection was identified, in which heat-induced cell turnover releases cellular nitrogen into a shared pool, and Pediococcus contributes aromatic amino acid biosynthesis that supports respiratory heat output in Bacillus . Chorismate was identified as a central metabolic branch point, where flux is redirected toward tyrosine and menaquinone biosynthesis to sustain metabolic turnover, enhance electron transport efficiency, and alleviate oxidative damage. These findings provide a theoretical basis for precise and standardized industrial production of HTD.

Source: Food Chemistry X

DOI: 10.1016/j.fochx.2026.104599