Unlocking Trehalose's versatility: A comprehensive Journey from biosynthesis to therapeutic applications

Abstract

For over forty years, a sugar of rare configuration known as trehalose (two molecules of glucose linked at their 1-carbons), has been recognised for more than just its roles as a storage compound. The ability of trehalose to protect an extensive range of biological materials, for instance cell lines, tissues, proteins and DNA, has sparked considerable interest in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Currently, trehalose is now being investigated as a promising therapeutic candidate for human use, as it has shown potential to reduce disease severity in various experimental models. Despite its diverse biological effects, the precise mechanism underlying this observation remain unclear. Therefore, this review delves into the significance of trehalose biosynthesis pathway in the development of novel drug, investigates the inhibitors of trehalose synthesis and evaluates the binding efficiency of T6P with TPS1. Additionally, it also emphasizes the knowledge about the protective effect of trehalose on modulation of autophagy, combating viral infections, addressing the conditions like cancer and neurodegenerative diseases based on the recent advancement. Furthermore, review also highlight the trehalose's emerging role as a surfactant in delivering monoclonal antibodies that will further broadening its potential application in biomedicines.