Description
Trehalose is a natural α-linked disaccharide composed of α-glucose units that is found in plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi. Trehalose has high water retention capabilities and can be used to form gels or prevent desiccation. Derivatives of trehalose exhibit anticancer, anti-metastatic, and neuromodulatory activities; they may also induce autophagy and modulate activity of toll-like receptors (TLRs).
References
Williams B, Njaci I, Moghaddam L, et al. Trehalose Accumulation Triggers Autophagy during Plant Desiccation. PLoS Genet. 2015 Dec 3;11(12):e1005705. PMID: 26633550.
Jiang YL, Li SX, Liu YJ, et al. Synthesis and Evaluation of Trehalose-Based Compounds as Novel Inhibitors of Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion. Chem Biol Drug Des. 2015 Nov;86(5):1017-29. PMID: 25855371.
Rodriguez Lavado J, Sestito SE, Cighetti R, et al. Trehalose- and glucose-derived glycoamphiphiles: small-molecule and nanoparticle Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) modulators. J Med Chem. 2014 Nov 13;57(21):9105-23. PMID: 25268544.