Fig. 4
From: Mechanisms and evolution of resistance to environmental extremes in animals
(Adapted from Crowe et al. [78])
Schematic representation of trehalose’s proposed protective mechanism. Hydrated phospholipid membranes exist in a liquid crystalline state. Under normal desiccation conditions (top), dry membranes transit to a gel state. Rehydration causes transient leakiness as membranes in a gel state transit back to a liquid crystalline state. When desiccated in the presence of trehalose, the disaccharide maintain the spacing of phospholipid head groups (either via water replacement or vitrification—or both), allowing membranes to maintain their liquid crystalline state.