Establishment of a spectroscopic evaluation method of anhydrobiosis in anhydrobionts and reconstruction system to elucidate anhydrobiosis mechanism

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K15781
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 43060:System genome science-related
• Research Institution: Center for Novel Science Initatives, National Institutes of Natural Sciences
• Principal Investigator: Tanaka Sae 大学共同利用機関法人自然科学研究機構(新分野創成センター、アストロバイオロジーセンター、生命創成探究, 生命創成探究センター, 特任助教 (60770336)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 乾燥耐性 / クマムシ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Water is essential for life. On the other hand, there are species that can survive in an almost completely dehydrated state. This ability, referred to anhydrobiosis, is a good example of biopreservation and is expected to replace the current mainstream cryopreservation. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the molecular mechanism of anhydrobiosis in tardigrade. In particular, this research focuses on quantifying and visualizing the phenomena that occur during the dehydration process. In this research, I have established a technology to introduce exogenous genes to tardigrade, and observed what kind of phenomenon occurs in the cell of tardigrade using fluorescent proteins such as GFP.

Free Research Field

分子生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

乾燥耐性は水を完全に失った状態であるが、給水によって元に戻ることができる。このメカニズムの解明は、精子卵子、食物の保存において新たな方法を提供するばかりか、水が必須である生命システムにおける水分子の役割と生体分子との関わりを明らかにすることができる。本研究では、乾燥耐性生物の細胞内において脱水の行程でどのような現象が生じているかを観察する目的で、蛍光タンパク質を細胞内に発現させる実験方法を世界で初めて構築した。