Trehalase activity in extracts of Phycomyces blakesleeanus spores following the induction of germination by heat activation

The heat activation of trehalase in extracts of sporangiospores of Phycomyces blakesleeanus, following the induction of germination by heat activation and the gelatinization of potato starch granules were studied under different conditions in order to discriminate between several phenomena as possible triggers in the activation of trehalase.Short-chain alcohols (from methanol to pentanol) lower the activation temperature of trehalase while long-chain alcohols (from heptanol to nonanol) raise it. Short-chain alcohols also lower the gelatinization temperature of potato starch granules, while long-chain alcohols, hexanol and heptanol have hardly any influence on the gelatinization temperature. Octanol raises the gelatinization temperature. More polar phenols lower the activation temperature of trehalase, while more apolar phenols will raise it. The gelatinization temperature of starch granules is more lowered by the polar polyphenols than by the more apolar phenols.The effect of high pressure on starch gelatinization was investigated in order to compare data from such a model system with the data on trehalase activation.The gelatinization temperature of starch granules is shifted upwards with about 3–5 K/1000 atm (1.013×10⁵ kPa). Pressures higher than 1500 atm do not further increase the gelatinization temperature. However, no reversal of the effect, as occurs with protein conformational changes, is seen with pressure up to 2500 atm. Also for trehalase activation we find a continuous upward shift of the activation temperature with about 5–9 K/1000 atm. These data are in agreement with a thermal transition in a polysaccharide matrix, being the trigger in the heat activation of trehalase.