An elastic neutron scattering on dynamical transition in hydrogen-bonded systems

Elastic incoherent neutron scattering measurements have been performed on trehalose and sucrose/D₂O mixtures as a function of temperature. The study provides an effective way for characterizing the dynamical behaviour, furnishing a set of parameters characterizing the ‘flexibility’ and the ‘rigidity’ that justifies the better cryptobiotic effect of trehalose with respect to sucrose. Elastic scans make evident a non-Gaussian behaviour of the intensity profiles, which is more marked for sucrose, with a dynamical transition at T253 and 250 K for trehalose/D₂O and sucrose/D₂O mixtures, respectively.     

利用原位X射线散射研究神经酰胺E与海藻糖的相互作用

海藻糖和神经酰胺在皮肤保湿中具有重要作用。 利用原位X射线散射设备,研究了在干燥和升降温过程中海藻糖与神经酰胺之间的分子相互作用。 结果表明,在海藻糖的存在下,神经酰胺E与细胞膜脂分子一样难以失水而延缓了结晶过程。 反之,神经酰胺也抑制了海藻糖在干燥过程中结晶,从而延缓了水分挥发。 此外,在海藻糖的存在下,冷冻干燥的神经酰胺乳液样品加热至105 ℃再降至室温,形成了皮肤中广泛存在的正交晶相和液晶相共存的结构,很好地模拟了皮肤细胞间脂层的相结构。 发现海藻糖代替了角质层中的其它成分,保护神经酰胺分子以真实皮肤中的方式排列。     

Aggregation processes of biomolecules in presence of trehalose

Among disaccharides, trehalose, a naturally-occurring glass-forming disaccharide, is particularly effective in terms of its ability to preserve several organisms under stress conditions. The present work is aimed to investigate the bioprotective action of trehalose on lysozyme as a function of temperature. In order to extract quantitative information about the dimensional changes of the proteins, we performed Small Angle Neutron Scattering measurements on lysozyme/D₂O solutions in absence and in presence of the disaccharide. The findings emphasise the capability of trehalose to stabilise the protein, activating aggregation processes.     

Mutual interactions in a ternary protein/bioprotectant/water system

The dynamics of hydration water play a key role in many biological processes. The activity and function of proteins are strongly affected by the presence of water, which interacts primarily by means of hydrogen bonding. These interactions are examined in this work by a comparison of neutron vibrational spectra (Inelastic Neutron Scattering, INS) of dry lysozyme and hydrated lysozyme at h = 0.7 (g of H₂O/g of protein) with those of a lysozyme/water mixture at the same hydration value in the presence of the glass-forming bioprotectant trehalose. A difference spectrum, obtained by subtracting the dry lysozyme spectrum from that of the lysozyme/water mixture, yields the hydration water spectrum which is compared to the INS spectra of different kinds of ice in order to determine the changes induced by lysozyme on the hydrogen-bonded network of water. An additional comparison is performed by using a double-difference spectrum obtained by subtracting both the dry lysozyme and the trehalose spectra from the lysozyme/trehalose/water ternary spectrum. The effects of the mutual interactions among the three components, i.e. protein, disaccharide and water, are determined by comparison of the spectra of the dry systems (lysozyme, trehalose) with the difference spectra obtained from subtraction of the dry systems from the binary systems. It is concluded that the interfacial water more strongly affects the intermolecular mode region at low frequencies, whereas the vibrational spectra at high frequencies are more influenced by lysozyme and trehalose.     

Neutron Total Scattering Investigation of the Dissolution Mechanism of Trehalose in Alkali/Urea Aqueous Solution

The atomic picture of cellulose dissolution in alkali/urea aqueous solution is still not clear. To reveal it, we use trehalose as the model molecule and total scattering as the main tool. Three kinds of alkali solution, i.e., LiOH, NaOH and KOH are compared. The most probable all-atom structures of the solution are thus obtained. The hydration shell of trehalose has a layered structure. The smaller alkali ions can penetrate into the glucose rings around oxygen atoms to form the first hydration layer. The larger urea molecules interact with hydroxide groups to form complexations. Then, the electronegative complexation can form the second hydration layer around alkali ions via electrostatic interaction. Therefore, the solubility of alkali aqueous solution for cellulose decreases with the alkali cation radius, i.e., LiOH > NaOH > KOH. Our findings are helpful for designing better green solvents for cellulose.     

INS investigation of disaccharide/H2O mixtures

Inelastic neutron scattering (INS) on pure water and on aqueous solutions of homologous disaccharides, such as trehalose and sucrose, are presented. Neutron spectra were collected over a temperature range of 253 to 353 K by using the spectrometer MARI at the ISIS pulsed neutron source of the Rutheford Appleton Laboratory (Chilton, UK). The MARI spectrometer allowed us to get information on the hydrogen bond strength for the two homologous disaccharide/H₂O mixtures by analysing their low frequency vibrational properties.     

Structure of Escherichia coli dUTPase in Solution: A Small Angle Neutron Scattering Study

The present study investigates shape properties of the enzyme dUTPase from Escherichia coli in the solution phase. In this work small angle neutron scattering (SANS) findings on dUTPase/D₂O solutions for temperature values of T = 8 °C and T = 37 °C are presented. The analysis of SANS data, carried out by using a prolate ellipsoid core/shell model fitting and the well‐known Guinier and Zimm analysis procedures allows the characterization of the shape of the protein in solution. By means of the comparison with experimental and theoretical data existing in literature on dUTPase in the crystalline state, we find that the protein in solution maintains its dimensions before the denaturation process. Furthermore, by analyzing the SANS spectra of dUTPase/D₂O/trehalose solutions, we emphasize the bioprotective effects of trehalose on the protein.

Structure of dUTPase.     

Trehalose Biosynthesis Enhancement for Six Yeast Strains Under Pressurized Culture

Six yeast strains of the commercial brewing yeasts CICC1391 and CICC1471, the commercial baker yeasts CICC1339 and CICC1447, and the commercial alcohol yeasts CICC1286 and CICC1291 have been cultured under 1.0 MPa of pressure with N₂ and CO₂ as pressure media. The concentration of intracellular trehalose and the activity of trehalose synthases complex have been measured. Also, the morphology changes of yeast cells have been observed by scanning electronic microscope. There was a positive correlation between the activity of trehalose synthase complex and the concentration of intracellular trehalose; and there was a negative correlation between the activity of trehalose synthase complex and the viability of yeast strains. Having been cultured for 3 h at high pressure of 1.0 MPa, the concentration of intracellular trehalose and the activity of trehalose synthases complex were improved by 50.1% to 116.4% and 45.2% to 219.1%, respectively, compared to those of atmospheric pressure culture. Under high pressure, many wrinkles appeared on the membrane surface of yeast cells. It has been found that yeasts are more sensitive to high pressure for having more and sharper wrinkles on their cell membranes.     

A microcalorimetric enzymatic method for trehalose determination in food

As trehalose is a glucose font and also an additive in food, a new reliable method for trehalose determination is proposed. The analytical method uses an isothermal microcalorimeter, directly relates the analyte concentration with the heat variation of the enzymatic decomposition of trehalose into two glucose molecules. The enzymatic reaction is performed inside the calorimeter in the presence of trehalase enzyme immobilized on amino activated glass beads. Through the calibration curve, the trehalose quantity in some food samples (mushrooms and honey) has been determined. The calorimetric procedure was compared to a previously identified methodology based on an amperometric biosensor.     

海藻糖抑制淀粉质多肽42构象转变的分子动力学模拟

应用分子动力学模拟方法研究了海藻糖抑制淀粉质多肽42(Aβ42)构象转变的分子机理.结果表明,海藻糖溶液浓度对Aβ42构象转变具有非常重要的影响.在水和低浓度海藻糖溶液(0.18mol·L-1)中,Aβ42可由初始的α-螺旋结构转变成β-折叠的二级结构;但海藻糖浓度为0.37mol·L-1时即可有效抑制Aβ42的构象转变.这是因为海藻糖利用其优先排阻作用使水分子在多肽周围0.2nm内富集,而其自身却在距离多肽0.4nm的位置附近团聚.另外,海藻糖还可通过降低多肽间的疏水相互作用,减少多肽分子内远距离的接触,有效抑制多肽的疏水塌缩和构象转变.上述分子模拟的结果对于进一步合理设计阿尔茨海默病的高效抑制剂具有非常重要的理论指导意义.     

液相色谱/蒸发光散射测定转基因烟草提取液中的海藻糖

 采用乙二胺动态修饰硅胶柱分离、蒸发光散射检测器测定了转基因烟草提取液中的糖。 4种糖的峰面积标准曲线在 10 0mg/L～ 15 0 0mg/L范围内均具有良好的线性关系。所建立的方法对果糖、葡萄糖、蔗糖、海藻糖的检测下限分别为 10mg/L ,2 0mg/L ,10mg/L和 10mg/L。     

COMPARISON OF THE SOLID-MATRIX LUMINESCENCE PROPERTIES OF BENZO(a)PYRENE-DNA ADDUCTS ON α-CYCLODEXTRIN/NaCl and TREHALOSE/NaCl MATRICES

Abstract— The solid-matrix luminescence properties of (±)- trans -7,8-dihydroxy-anti-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene-DNA ([±]-anti-BPDE-DNA) adducts were compared on α-cyclo-dextrin (CD)/NaCl and trehalose/NaCl solid matrices. Both the optimum composition for the solid matrices and the best solvent system were obtained experimentally for acquiring the maximum room-temperature fluorescence (RTF) and room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) signals for the (±)- anti -BPDE-DNA. Most of the solid-matrix RTF and RTP data were obtained at 296 K and 93 K for (±)-anti-BPDE-DNA adducts adsorbed on 1%α-CD/NaCl and 80% trehalose/NaCl. The RTF signals were strong for (±)-BPDE-DNA adducts on both solid matrices, but RTP was only obtained on the trehalose/NaCl solid matrices with the 80% trehalose yielding the strongest RTP signal for (±)-anti-BPDE-DNA. The fluorescence lifetime data for (±)-anti-BPDE-DNA gave two components on 1 %α-CD/NaCl. For 80% trehalose/NaCl, three components were revealed, but two components were obtained with 80% trehalose/NaCl after ether extraction of the solid matrix. The third component was ascribed to the formation of the tetrols from (±)- anti -BPDE-DNA adducts during the drying step in the sample preparation of 80% trehalose/NaCl. The results give the first reported data on the solid-matrix luminescence of the (±)- anti -BPDE-DNA adducts. These results should be of considerable interest not only from an analytical viewpoint but as a new means of studying the luminescence characteristics of the adducts.     

Kinetics and equilibria of the chromatographic separation of maltose and trehalose

Trehalose, a nonreducing disaccharide, has been extensively applied to food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical goods. The resultant solution of trehalose prepared by enzymatic methods includes high amounts of maltose. However, it is quite difficult to separate maltose and trehalose on an industrial scale because of their similar properties. In this paper, a high‐performance resin was selected as a stationary phase to separate trehalose and maltose, and the resolution of these sugars was 0.59. The potential of a cation exchange resin was investigated as the stationary phase in separating trehalose and maltose using deionized water as the mobile phase. Based on the equilibrium dispersive model, the axial dispersion coefficients and overall mass transfer coefficients of maltose and trehalose were determined by moment analysis at two different temperatures, 50 and 70°C. Other parameters, including the column void and the adsorption isotherms, were also determined and applied to simulate the elution curves of trehalose and maltose. The simulated results matched the experimental data, validating the parameters. The optimized parameters are critical to the chromatographic separation of trehalose and maltose on an industrial scale.     

Structural investigation of the confinement of finite amounts of trehalose in water-containing sodium Bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate reversed micelles

The structural effect of trehalose confined in water-containing sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT) reversed micelles at water to AOT molar ratio W = 5 and 10 as a function of the trehalose to AOT molar ratio T (0 < T < 0.1) has been investigated by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). SANS data analysis is consistent with the hypothesis that trehalose is encapsulated within the quite spherical hydrophilic micellar cores of water-containing reversed micelles, causing an increase of the aggregate size and a decrease of the polydispersion. Moreover, SANS results suggest that the trehalose confinement in water-containing reversed micelles involves marked changes on the molecular packing of the water-containing micellar cores. In particular, according to the obtained findings, we can hypothesize the intercalation of the trehalose molecules between the polar surfactant headgroups. The preferential solubilization in this specific nanodomain could explain the trehalose capability to prevent, upon dehydration, the transition to a gel phase, hindering serious damage to biostructures.     

Gas vacuoles formation during the dehydration of trehalose dihydrate: A Raman microspectroscopy approach

Dehydration of trehalose dihydrate implemented by slow heating (1 K min⁻¹), has been monitored by Raman microspectroscopy from 25 to 110°C directly on single crystals. Between 90 and 120°C, gas initially trapped in irregular macroscopic defects, reorganizes to form spherical vacuoles. The Raman analysis of these vacuoles highlights that the areas in vicinity of the defects are the first affected by the dehydration mechanisms. Indeed, the progressive amorphization of the crystal starts around these defects.     

Glucose‐Responsive Trehalose Hydrogel for Insulin Stabilization and Delivery

Effective delivery of therapeutic proteins is important for many biomedical applications. Yet, the stabilization of proteins during delivery and long‐term storage remains a significant challenge. Herein, a trehalose‐based hydrogel is reported that stabilizes insulin to elevated temperatures prior to glucose‐triggered release. The hydrogel is synthesized using a polymer with trehalose side chains and a phenylboronic acid end‐functionalized 8‐arm poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The hydroxyls of the trehalose side chains form boronate ester linkages with the PEG boronic acid cross‐linker to yield hydrogels without any further modification of the original trehalose polymer. Dissolution of the hydrogel is triggered upon addition of glucose as a stronger binder to boronic acid (K_b = 2.57 vs 0.48 m ⁻¹ for trehalose), allowing the insulin that is entrapped during gelation to be released in a glucose‐responsive manner. Moreover, the trehalose hydrogel stabilizes the insulin as determined by immunobinding after heating up to 90 °C. After 30 min heating, 74% of insulin is detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay in the presence of the trehalose hydrogel, whereas only 2% is detected without any additives.     

Synthetic trehalose di- and mono-esters of α-, methoxy- and keto-mycolic acids

Synthetic mycolic acids matching the overall structure of the major mycolic acids of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are coupled to trehalose to generate the corresponding synthetic trehalose monomycolate (TMM) and trehalose dimycolate (TDM; cord factor), either with two identical or two different mycolic acids.     

A Bio-Inspired Trehalose Additive for Reversible Zinc Anodes with Improved Stability and Kinetics

The moderate reversibility of Zn anodes, as a long-standing challenge in aqueous zinc-ion batteries, promotes the exploration of suitable electrolyte additives continuously. It is crucial to establish the absolute predominance of smooth deposition within multiple interfacial reactions for stable zinc anodes, including suppressing side parasitic reactions and facilitating Zn plating process. Trehalose catches our attention due to the reported mechanisms in sustaining biological stabilization. In this work, the inter-disciplinary application of trehalose is reported in the electrolyte modification for the first time. The pivotal roles of trehalose in suppressed hydrogen evolution and accelerated Zn deposition have been investigated based on the principles of thermodynamics as well as reaction kinetics. The electrodeposit changes from random accumulation of flakes to dense bulk with (002)-plane exposure due to the unlocked crystal-face oriented deposition with trehalose addition. As a result, the highly reversible Zn anode is obtained, exhibiting a high average CE of 99.8 % in the Zn/Cu cell and stable cycling over 1500 h under 9.0 % depth of discharge in the Zn symmetric cell. The designing principles and mechanism analysis in this study could serve as a source of inspiration in exploring novel additives for advanced Zn anodes.     

Synthesis of maradolipid

The first synthesis of maradolipid, a unique dissymmetrically 6,6'-di-O-acylated trehalose glycolipid isolated from C. elegans, is accomplished in five steps starting from trehalose in 45% overall yield. The short synthesis relies on dissymmetrization of trehalose core via regioselective acylation of a 2,3,4,2',3',4'-hexa-O-TMS trehalose 6,6'-diol derivative as a key step.     

Stabilization of bilayer lipid membranes on solid supports by trehalose

Using the electrostriction method the effect of the glucose and trehalose on the elasticity modulus perpendicular to the membrane plane, E_⊥, and the electrical capacitance, C, of supported bilayer lipid membranes (s-BLM) formed on the freshly cut tip of Teflon-coated Ag wire was studied. Addition of saccharides into the electrolyte resulted in a decrease in the elasticity modulus of the s-BLM formed from the soybean phosphatidylcholine in n-hexadecane, while the capacitance was increased. In addition, the trehalose has a considerable stabilizing effect on the above parameters of the s-BLM. Treatment of the s-BLM in an electrolyte containing 0.3 M of the trehalose allowed storage of the s-BLM under dry conditions and under refrigeration, with the subsequent recovery of membrane parameters after the wire had been dipped into the electrolyte.