Tardigrades Use Intrinsically Disordered Proteins to Survive Desiccation

cell ^ | 16 March 2017 | Thomas C. Boothby

[JoeProBono]

Tardigrades are microscopic animals that survive a remarkable array of stresses, including desiccation [extreme drying].

How tardigrades survive desiccation has remained a mystery for more than 250 years.

Trehalose, a disaccharide essential for several organisms to survive drying, is detected at low levels or not at all in some tardigrade species, indicating that tardigrades possess potentially novel mechanisms for surviving desiccation.

Here we show that tardigrade-specific intrinsically disordered proteins (TDPs) are essential for desiccation tolerance. TDP genes are constitutively expressed at high levels or induced during desiccation in multiple tardigrade species. TDPs are required for tardigrade desiccation tolerance, and these genes are sufficient to increase desiccation tolerance when expressed in heterologous systems.

TDPs form non-crystalline amorphous solids (vitrify) upon desiccation, and this vitrified state mirrors their protective capabilities.

Our study identifies TDPs as functional mediators of tardigrade desiccation tolerance, expanding our knowledge of the roles and diversity of disordered proteins involved in stress tolerance.

[JoeProBono]

Tardigrades, also known as “water bears,” are strangely adorable microscopic creatures that are capable of withstanding some of the worst that nature can throw at them. Classified as “extremophiles,” they can survive freezing, total dehydration, radiation, and even the vacuum of space.

[dp0622]

I said the Threat Title WORD FOR WORD to my wife only a half hour ago.

What are the odds?

[txhurl]

Next big thing for apartment dwellers: pets that live on/between glass microscope slides.

[dainbramaged]

I don’t know about the “strangely adorable” part.

[gaijin]

sort of like Madonna.

[musicman]

"Tardigrades Use
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins
to Survive Desiccation...."

[gaijin]

[dp0622]

ROFL!!!!!

[JoeProBono]

[musicman]

[PTBAA]

Tardigrades Use the New York Jets and the SF 49ers to Survive Desiccation (Intrinsically Disordered Pro-teams)

[ThanhPhero]

Ds and Fs and 0s are given as tardigrades.

[Paradox]

Cool, so in a way, they turn into glass.

[Robert DeLong]

You need to run out and buy 1 Powerball & one Mega Millions ticket. You will surely win both because their odds are better than the odds are for your feat from just 1/2 hour ago. 8>)

[JoeProBono]

[snooter55]

Known as “extremophiles” . . . . . well, that explains everything now. The very reason Pelosi, Chuckie the clown, Maxine Waters, etc., WILL NOT GO AWAY - they are all EXTREMOPHILES !

[JoeProBono]

[dp0622]

lol. Since I didn’t even now some of those words, you’re right. :)

[dp0622]

AH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why does she have my 90 year old uncle nunzio’s arms?

[Robert DeLong]

LOL, well you won’t know the numbers that will be picked so I guess knowing is irrelevant. 8>)