BOSTON, MA – Tardigrades, also known as water bears, are remarkable microscopic animals known for their resilience in harsh environments. These creatures have even been sent to the International Space Station for research purposes. Researchers have now made a breakthrough by identifying the mechanism that triggers the survival mode in tardigrades, known as the “tun state.”
In extreme conditions such as extreme cold or high salt concentrations, tardigrades can enter this tun state, a form of suspended animation, to protect themselves from the challenging environment. The study found that the creatures’ bodies produce unstable free radicals of oxygen and an unpaired electron, which can cause damage to the body’s proteins and DNA if they accumulate. The researchers discovered that this oxidative stress triggers a process that signals the tardigrade to enter the protective tun state.
Published in the journal PLOS One, these findings have significant implications. Lead study author Amanda L. Smythers, a postdoctoral research fellow at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, believes that this discovery could contribute to the development of materials that can respond to harsh conditions, such as the engineering of protective firefighter gear. Furthermore, the research could lead to the development of better chemotherapeutics for battling cancer cells.
The study’s findings have also attracted the interest of Dr. William R. Miller, a research assistant professor at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas, who believes that the mechanisms discovered in tardigrades could potentially be used to control cancer in new ways.
Research on tardigrades is not only fascinating for understanding their resilience in extreme habitats, but it also holds promise for various practical applications, from materials engineering to cancer research and treatment.