Sussich F, Skopec C, Brady J, Cesàro A
Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Macromolecular Chemistry, Laboratory of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, University of Trieste, Via Giorgieri 1, I-34127 Trieste, Italy.
Carbohydr Res. 2001 Aug 30;334(3):165-76. doi: 10.1016/s0008-6215(01)00189-6.
Physico-chemical properties of the trehalose-water system are reviewed with special reference to the transformations that may shed light on the mechanism of trehalose bio-protection. Critical analysis of solution thermodynamics is made in order to scrutinize trehalose properties often called 'anomalous' and to check the consistency of literature results. Discussion on the conversion between the solid state polymorphic forms is given, with a special emphasis of the transformations involving the newly identified anhydrous crystalline form of alpha,alpha-trehalose, TRE(alpha). This exotic crystal is almost 'isomorphous' with the dihydrate crystal structure, and possesses the unique feature of reversibly absorbing water to produce the dihydrate, without changing the main structural features. The reversible process could play a functional role in the well-known ability of this sugar to protect biological structures from damage during desiccation. The final aim of the paper is to add some new insights into and to reconcile previous hypotheses for the peculiar 'in vivo' action of trehalose.
本文综述了海藻糖 - 水体系的物理化学性质，特别关注了那些可能有助于揭示海藻糖生物保护机制的转变。对溶液热力学进行了批判性分析，以审视常被称为“异常”的海藻糖性质，并检验文献结果的一致性。文中讨论了固态多晶型之间的转变，特别强调了涉及新发现的无水α,α - 海藻糖晶体形式TRE(α)的转变。这种奇特的晶体与二水合物晶体结构几乎“同晶型”，具有可逆吸水生成二水合物的独特特性，且不改变主要结构特征。这一可逆过程可能在这种糖类保护生物结构免受干燥损伤的著名能力中发挥功能性作用。本文的最终目的是为海藻糖特殊的“体内”作用增添一些新见解，并调和先前的假说。
