Comparative genome sequencing reveals genomic signature of extreme desiccation tolerance in the anhydrobiotic midge.

ABSTRACT: Anhydrobiosis represents an extreme example of tolerance adaptation to water loss, where an organism can survive in an ametabolic state until water returns. Here we report the first comparative analysis examining the genomic background of extreme desiccation tolerance, which is exclusively found in larvae of the only anhydrobiotic insect, Polypedilum vanderplanki. We compare the genomes of P. vanderplanki and a congeneric desiccation-sensitive midge P. nubifer. We determine that the genome of the anhydrobiotic species specifically contains clusters of multi-copy genes with products that act as molecular shields. In addition, the genome possesses several groups of genes with high similarity to known protective proteins. However, these genes are located in distinct paralogous clusters in the

SUBMITTER: Gusev O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4175575 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature