Maltotetraose is a tetrasaccharide that is composed of glucose molecules linked by α-1,4 glycosidic bonds and has been found in B. stearothermophilus. It increases the α-amylase synthesis rate in B. stearothermophilus 3-fold greater than sucrose or glucose when used at a concentration of 0.1 mM. Maltotetraose (750 μg/ml) inhibits the growth of E. carotovora in a cylinder-agar plate assay but does not affect the growth of several other microorganisms. It also inhibits TNF-α-induced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in MOVAS-1 mouse smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) transfected with an ICAM-1 luciferase reporter when used at a concentration of 20 μM.
