Preservation of Membranes in Anhydrobiotic Organisms: The Role of Trehalose

Abstract

Trehalose is a nonreducing disaccharide of glucose commonly found at high concentrations in anhydrobiotic organisms. In the presence of trehalose, dry dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) had a transition temperature similar to that of the fully hydrated lipid, whereas DPPC dried without trehalose had a transition temperature about 30 degrees Kelvin higher. Results obtained with infrared spectroscopy indicate that trehalose and DPPC interact by hydrogen bonding between the OH groups in the carbohydrate and the polar head groups of DPPC. These and previous results show that this hydrogen bonding alters the spacing of the polar head groups and may thereby decrease van der Waals interactions in the hydrocarbon chains of the DPPC. This interaction between trehalose and DPPC is specific to trehalose. Hence this specificity may be an important factor in the ability of this molecule to stabilize dry membranes in anhydrobiotic organisms.

Global changes in protein synthesis during adaptation of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to 0.7 M NaCl

“…Both the maintenance of a proper intracellular Na ϩ balance and the accumulation of the compatible solute glycerol are key features of the osmoregulatory response in yeast cells (7). The disaccharide trehalose has been invoked as an agent in severe dehydration resistance by proposed membrane-stabilizing properties (13). Thus, regulation of genes involved in these processes is likely to be salinity controlled.…”

Self-assembly of trehalose molecules on a lysozyme surface: the broken glass hypothesis

“…Among the naturally available disaccharides, trehalose appears to be the one of the most effective stabilizing agents. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] Trehalose, which is also called mycose and mushroom sugar, 1 is a nonreducing homodisaccharide in which two D-glucopyranose units are linked together in an α − 1,1-glycosidic linkage.…”

Structural analysis of the subunits of the trehalose‐6‐phosphate synthase/phosphatase complex in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and their function during heat shock

“…In particular, trehalose is accumulated in phases of nutrient starvation, desiccation, and after exposure to a mild heat shock (for reviews see Van Laere, 1989;Wiemken, 1990;Crowe et al, 1992). It has been suggested, therefore, that trehalose plays a role as a stabiliser of cellular structures under stress conditions (Keller et al, 1982;Crowe et al, 1984). In accordance with this suggestion, in vitro studies have revealed the exceptional capability of trehalose in protecting biological membranes and enzymes from freezing-or drying-induced dehydration (for a review see Crowe et al, 1992) and heat stress (Hottiger et al, 1994).…”