Trehalose is a natural non-reducing disaccharide found in plants, invertebrates, fungi, and bacteria.1,2 In addition to roles as an energy source and stress protectant, trehalose can function as a signaling molecule.3,4 Trehalose 6-phosphate is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of trehalose. It is generated from UDP-glucose and glucose 6-phosphate by trehalose 6-phosphate synthase (TPS or otsA).5 In plants, changes in trehalose 6-phosphate levels positively correlate with diurnal changes in sucrose and may regulate diverse processes, including starch degradation and flowering.3,6
1.Walmagh, M., Zhao, R., and Desmet, T.Trehalose analogues: Latest insights in properties and biocatalytic productionInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences16(6)13729-13745(2015) 2.Goddijn, O.J., Verwoerd, T.C., Voogd, E., et al.Inhibition of trehalase activity enhances trehalose accumulation in transgenic plantsPlant Physiology113(1)181-190(1997) 3.Lunn, J.E., Delorge, I., Figueroa, C.M., et al.Trehalose metabolism in plantsPlant Journal79(4)544-567(2014) 4.Henry, C., Bledsoe, S.W., Siekman, A., et al.The trehalose pathway in maize: Conservation and gene regulation in response to the diurnal cycle and extended darknessJournal of Experimental Botany65(20)5959-5973(2014) 5.Padilla, L., KrÄmer, R., Stephanopoulos, G., et al.Overproduction of trehalose: Heterologous expression of Escherichia coli trehalose-6-phosphate synthase and trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase in Corynebacterium glutamicumApplied and Environmental Microbiology70(1)370-376(2004) 6.Wahl, V., Ponnu, J., Schlereth, A., et al.Regulation of flowering by trehalose-6-phosphate signaling in Arabidopsis thalianaScience339(6120)704-707(2013)