Molecular strategies of the Caenorhabditis elegans dauer larva to survive extreme desiccation.

ABSTRACT: Massive water loss is a serious challenge for terrestrial animals, which usually has fatal consequences. However, some organisms have developed means to survive this stress by entering an ametabolic state called anhydrobiosis. The molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are poorly understood. We recently showed that Caenorhabditis elegans dauer larva, an arrested stage specialized for survival in adverse conditions, is resistant to severe desiccation. However, this requires a preconditioning step at a mild desiccative environment to prepare the organism for harsher desiccation conditions. A systems approach was used to identify factors that are activated during this preconditioning. Using microarray analysis, proteomics, and bioinformatics, genes, proteins, and biochem

SUBMITTER: Erkut C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3853187 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature