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Role of Intrinsic Disorder in Animal Desiccation Tolerance
Author(s) -
Janis Brett,
Belott Clinton,
Menze Michael A.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
proteomics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.26
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1615-9861
pISSN - 1615-9853
DOI - 10.1002/pmic.201800067
Subject(s) - cryptobiosis , intrinsically disordered proteins , desiccation , desiccation tolerance , biology , proteome , tardigrade , folding (dsp implementation) , arid , evolutionary biology , protein folding , biophysics , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology , biochemistry , engineering , electrical engineering
This review compares the molecular strategies employed by anhydrobiotic invertebrates to survive extreme water stress. Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) play a central role in desiccation tolerance in all species investigated. Various hypotheses about the functions of anhydrobiosis‐related intrinsically disordered (ARID) proteins, including late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) and tardigrade‐specific intrinsically disordered proteins, are evaluated by broad sequence characterization. A surprisingly wide range in sequence characteristics, including hydropathy and the frequency and distribution of charges, is discovered. Interestingly, two clusters of similar proteins are found that potentially correlate with distinct functions. This may indicate two broad groups of ARID proteins, composed of one group that folds into functional conformations during desiccation and a second group that potentially displays functions in the hydrated state. A broad range of physiochemical properties suggest that folding may be induced by factors such as hydration level, molecular crowding, and interactions with binding partners. This plasticity may be required to fine‐tune the ARID‐proteome response at different hydration levels during desiccation. Furthermore, the sequence properties of some LEA proteins share qualities with IDPs known to undergo liquid–liquid phase separations during environmental challenges.