TY - JOUR
T1 - Trehalose in three species of desiccation tolerant tardigrades
AU - Jönsson, K. Ingemar
AU - Persson, Ola
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - We report a study on the presence of the disaccharide trehalose in three desiccation tolerant tardigrades. This sugar has long been suggested to play a protective role in desiccation tolerant animals. Trehalose was found in all species, with increased levels in dehydrated specimens of Macrobiotus islandicus, and possibly also in Macrobiotus krynauwi, both belonging to the family Macrobiotidae. In the third species, Milnesium tardigradum, very low amounts of trehalose were found, with no increase in the dehydrated state. This species has previously been reported to lack trehalose. Induction of trehalose has been reported only for species in the family Macrobiotidae, where also the highest levels have been found. Although the role of trehalose in the desiccation tolerance of tardigrades remains unclear, the diverging patterns in response to desiccation are interesting. Further studies of higher tardigrade taxa are needed in order to understand the evolutionary history of trehalose in these invertebrates.
AB - We report a study on the presence of the disaccharide trehalose in three desiccation tolerant tardigrades. This sugar has long been suggested to play a protective role in desiccation tolerant animals. Trehalose was found in all species, with increased levels in dehydrated specimens of Macrobiotus islandicus, and possibly also in Macrobiotus krynauwi, both belonging to the family Macrobiotidae. In the third species, Milnesium tardigradum, very low amounts of trehalose were found, with no increase in the dehydrated state. This species has previously been reported to lack trehalose. Induction of trehalose has been reported only for species in the family Macrobiotidae, where also the highest levels have been found. Although the role of trehalose in the desiccation tolerance of tardigrades remains unclear, the diverging patterns in response to desiccation are interesting. Further studies of higher tardigrade taxa are needed in order to understand the evolutionary history of trehalose in these invertebrates.
KW - Anhydrobiosis
KW - Macrobiotus islandicus
KW - Macrobiotus krynauwi
KW - Milnesium tardigradum
KW - desiccation tolerance
KW - tardigrades
KW - trehalose
U2 - https://doi.org/10.2174/1874336601003010001
DO - https://doi.org/10.2174/1874336601003010001
M3 - Article
VL - 3
SP - 1
EP - 5
JO - Open Zoology Journal
JF - Open Zoology Journal
SN - 1874-3366
ER -