α,β-trehalose, an intracellular substance in resting cyst of colpodid ciliates as a key to environmental tolerances

In this study, we identified α,β-trehalose in the resting cyst, a dormancy cell form characterized by extreme tolerance to environmental stresses, of the ciliated protist Colpoda cucullus, using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and a proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR). Gene expression analysis revealed that the expression of trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS), glycosyltransferase (GT), alpha-amylase (AMY), and trehalose transporter 1 (TRET1), were up-regulated in encystment, while the expression of α-glucosidase 2 (AG2) and trehalase (TREH) was up-regulated in excystment. These results suggest that α,β-trehalose is synthesized during encystment process, while and contributes to extreme tolerances to environmental stressors, stored carbohydrates, and energy reserve during resting cyst and/or during excystment.PMID:38697009 | DOI:10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149971
Source: Cell Research - Category: Cytology Authors: Source Type: research