Abstract Tardigrades (water bears) are known for their ability to reversibly enter anhydrobiosis, a state characterized by an almost complete loss of body water. Additionally, this state is suggested to influence tardigrade ageing, according to the ‘Sleeping Beauty’ hypothesis. So far, many multiomics studies have been conducted, showing diverse mechanisms of desiccation-related molecular protection in tardigrades. Although proteins are considered to play an important role in this phenomenon, the information on anhydrobiosis-related changes at the proteome level is still scarce. In this study, we aim to fill this gap by the mass spectrometry-based comparative proteomic analysis of two consecutive generations of the eutardigrade species Paramacrobiotus experimentalis Kaczmarek, Mioduchowska, Poprawa & Roszkowska, 2020 subjected to short (7-day) and long (30-day) anhydrobiosis. Obtained results allowed the first ever description of the P. experimentalis protein profile. Moreover, we were able to describe the global influence of anhydrobiosis duration on protein profiles of Pam. experimentalis, revealing changes in various biological processes. Finally, the potential between-generation changes of proteomic adaptations were investigated. Our findings confirmed the importance of both protective and cellular remodelling pathways in anhydrobiosis survival and revealed distinct processes that are specifically enhanced after short and long anhydrobiosis in either the parental or offspring generation.
Krakowiak et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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