Behm C A
Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
Int J Parasitol. 1997 Feb;27(2):215-29. doi: 10.1016/s0020-7519(96)00151-8.
The sugar trehalose, an alpha-1-linked non-reducing disaccharide of glucose, is important in the physiology of many micro-organisms as well as in some groups of metazoan organisms, including insects and nematodes. Trehalose is a stress protectant in biological systems as it interacts with and directly protects lipid membranes and proteins from the damage caused by environmental stresses such as desiccation and freezing. Trehalose is present in many nematode species where its concentration often exceeds that of glucose but is usually lower than that of glycogen. In Ascaris suum it is found in all tissues, with highest concentrations in muscle, haemolymph and the female and male reproductive organs. Trehalose acts as an energy reserve in some nematodes and their eggs, and may be important in uptake of glucose; it appears to function as the major circulating blood sugar. Trehalose accumulates in nematodes that can withstand dehydration and may be important in supercooling of nematodes or eggs that can withstand freezing. In many nematodes trehalose is also important in the process of egg hatching. The combined action of 2 enzymes, trehalose 6-phosphate (T6P) synthase and T6P phosphatase, catalyses the synthesis of trehalose in most organisms. Hydrolysis of trehalose glucose is catalysed by trehalase. These enzymes to have been detected in nematodes but the processes regulating their activity are unknown. Trehalose metabolism may provide new molecular targets for attack in nematodes parasitic in mammals.
海藻糖是一种由葡萄糖通过α-1键连接而成的非还原性双糖，在许多微生物以及包括昆虫和线虫在内的一些后生动物的生理过程中都很重要。海藻糖在生物系统中是一种应激保护剂，因为它与脂质膜和蛋白质相互作用，并直接保护它们免受诸如干燥和冷冻等环境压力造成的损害。海藻糖存在于许多线虫物种中，其浓度通常超过葡萄糖，但通常低于糖原。在猪蛔虫中，它存在于所有组织中，在肌肉、血淋巴以及雌性和雄性生殖器官中的浓度最高。海藻糖在一些线虫及其卵中作为能量储备，可能在葡萄糖摄取中起重要作用；它似乎是主要的循环血糖。海藻糖在能够耐受脱水的线虫中积累，可能在能够耐受冷冻的线虫或卵的过冷却过程中起重要作用。在许多线虫中，海藻糖在卵孵化过程中也很重要。海藻糖6-磷酸（T6P）合酶和T6P磷酸酶这两种酶的联合作用催化了大多数生物体中海藻糖的合成。海藻糖水解为葡萄糖由海藻糖酶催化。这些酶已在线虫中被检测到，但调节它们活性的过程尚不清楚。海藻糖代谢可能为攻击寄生在哺乳动物体内的线虫提供新的分子靶点。
