The Importance of Trehalose in Brewing Yeast Survival

Abstract

Originally, trehalose was believed to function only as a reserve carbohydrate similar to glycogen. It is now known that the degradation of trehalose yields little energy and whilst it can serve as a source of carbon skeletons for biosynthesis, it mainly functions as a membrane stabiliser and protectant for yeast cells under stress. (O'Connor-Cox et al, 1996). The significance of trehalose as an endogenous protectant is referred to in numerous literature sources.