Tardigrades exhibit remarkable survival abilities, enduring extreme conditions such as high/low temperatures, radiation, and the vacuum of space by entering a state of cryptobiosis or "tun," where they shed most of their body water
Researchers have unveiled that tardigrades produce distinct proteins known as intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), enabling them to create a protective "living glass" shield around their cells during desiccation.
By integrating these IDP genes into organisms like yeast and bacteria, scientists have successfully imparted desiccation tolerance to these non-tardigrade species. The IDPs safeguard the cells by enveloping and stabilizing crucial molecules.
NASA is conducting studies on tardigrades aboard the International Space Station to comprehend how their genes and gene expression adapt to the stresses of spaceflight. The objective is to leverage this understanding to safeguard astronaut health during prolonged space missions.
Exploiting the unique survival mechanisms of tardigrades could yield practical applications, including preserving biological materials like food and medicine against extreme temperatures, desiccation, and radiation—a necessity for deep space exploration.