Abstract 2531 Identification of molecular chaperone Hsp70/JDP systems in Tardigrade H. exemplaris

Tardigrades are eukaryotic organisms that can survive extreme conditions and environments such as ion radiation, desiccation, or even space. Among other molecular mechanisms, this ability is associated with recently discovered and unique to tardigrades cytoplasmic abundant heat soluble (CAHS) proteins. These intrinsically disordered proteins can reversibly form a protective gel inside the cells as a response to external stress condition. However, the exact mechanism of this process is unknown. A more general response to stress, identified in all eukaryotes, is the formation of so-called stress granules, a condensate of cytosolic proteins and RNA.