Mechanistic study of the intramolecular conversion of maltose to trehalose by Thermus caldophilus GK24 trehalose synthase

This paper questions what types of molecular transformation are involved in the conversion of maltose to trehalose by trehalose synthase from Thermus caldophilus GK24. The reverse reaction pathway has been examined with the aid of α,α-(2,4,6,6′,2′,4′,6″,6‴-2H8)trehalose (1). The mass data of the isolated reaction products clearly indicate that deuterated glucose is confined only to substrate molecules, and thus the reversible enzymatic conversion of trehalose into maltose proceeds through an intramolecular pathway.