An international research team consisting of Research Associate Takahiro Yamada and Associate Professor Akira Funahashi of the Keio University Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Dr. Ruslan Deviatiiarov and Dr. Alexander Nesmelov of Kazan Federal University (Russia), Unit Leader Oleg Gusev of RIKEN, Professor Noriko Hiroi of Sanyo-Onoda City University, and Senior Researcher Yoshitaka Suetsugu, Principal Researcher Richard Cornette, and Principal Researcher Takahiro Kikawada of NARO, focused on understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying the extreme desiccation tolerance known as anhydrobiosis in Pv11 cells, which allows the cells to survive under complete desiccation conditions with retaining proliferation potential after rehydration. The research team performed transcriptome analysis to estimate the genes involved in this mechanism. As a result, the team revealed that genes relevant to elimination of deleterious reactive oxygen species and reparation of DNA damaged due to desiccation are highly expressed during trehalose-treatment and rehydration, respectively, to achieve successful anhydrobiosis in Pv11 cells. These findings could be applied to the development of transgenic organisms with anhydrobiotic traits through the introduction of the identified gene groups to desiccation-sensitive organisms.
The results of this research was published in the online journal Scientific Reports on December 18, 2018 (Tues.; GMT).
For further information, please refer to the following PDF file.
How Cells, that Do Not Die when Desiccated, are able to Revive without Dying?