Trehalose 6-Phosphate Potassium Salt is an intermediate in the synthesis of D-(+)-Trehalose (T718750), a disaccharide composed of two α-glucose units. D-(+)-Trehalose is used in many processed foods as well as in biopharmaceutical monoclonal antibody formulations. When plants’ sugar levels are low, they reduce their investment in fatty acid synthesis. Trehalose 6-phoshate (T6P) regulates oil synthesis in plants. (Chem. and Eng. News p. 9 Oct. 1, (2018))
Trehalose is a natural non-reducing disaccharide found in plants, invertebrates, fungi, and bacteria. In addition to roles as an energy source and stress protectant, trehalose can function as a signaling molecule. 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). 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.
Trehalose 6-phosphate (T6P) is synthesised from glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) and uridine 5-diphospho-glucose. Trehalose-6-phosphate synthase catalyzes this reaction. T6P serves as a precursor for the synthesis of trehalose. It regulates sugar metabolism in in Arabidopsis plants and promotes its growth. In plants, T6P blocks the action of sucrose nonfermenting-1-related protein kinase 1, which affects the energy and carbon metabolism.
