Stress-protective genes from tardigrades

Abstract

From obtained stress-resistant yeast clones expressing tardigrade genes, plasmids are isolated, trans-formed into E. coli and then back-transformed into naive yeast (S. cerevisiae). Plasmids conferring stress tolerance are sequenced and sequence homologs from other species are identified through BLAST search on the amino acid level. Patterns of cross-resistance to multiple stressors (heat stress, oxidative stress, hyperosmosis) are examined among the transformants using the Scan-O-Matic microbial colony growth screening press and by recording growth in liquid media using Bioscreen. It was shown that a tardigrade gene that codes for a serum paraoxonase/arylesterase 1 is enhancing the resistance of S. cerevisiae to heat stress and osmotic stress.