How to translate text using browser tools
18 October 2024 Comparative Study of Gamma Radiation Tolerance between Desiccation-Sensitive and Desiccation-Tolerant Tardigrades
Tokiko Saigo, Katsuya Satoh, Takekazu Kunieda
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Tardigrades are small metazoans renowned for their exceptional tolerance against various harsh environments in a dehydrated state. Some species exhibited an extraordinary tolerance against high-dose irradiation even in a hydrated state. Given that natural sources of high radiation are rare, the selective pressure to obtain such a high radiotolerance during evolution remains elusive. It has been postulated that high radiation tolerances could be derived from adaptation to dehydration, because both dehydration and radiation cause similar damage on biomolecules at least partly, e.g., DNA cleavage and oxidation of various biomolecules, and dehydration is a common environmental stress that terrestrial organisms should adapt to. Although tardigrades are known for high radiotolerance, the radiotolerance records have been reported only for desiccation-tolerant tardigrade species and nothing was known about the radiotolerance in desiccation-sensitive tardigrade species. Hence, the relationship between desiccation-tolerance and radiotolerance remained unexplored. To this end, we examined the radiotolerance of the desiccation-sensitive tardigrade Grevenius myrops (formerly known as Isohypsibius myrops) in comparison to the well-characterized desiccation-tolerant tardigrade, Ramazzottius varieornatus. The median lethal dose (LD50) of G. myrops was approximately 2240 Gy. This was much lower than those reported for desiccation tolerant eutardigrades. The effects of irradiation on the lifespan and the ovipositions were more severe in G. myrops compared to those in R. varieornatus. The present study provides precise records on the radiotolerance of a desiccation-sensitive tardigrade and the current data supported the correlation between desiccation tolerance and radiotolerance at least in eutardigrades.

Tokiko Saigo, Katsuya Satoh, and Takekazu Kunieda "Comparative Study of Gamma Radiation Tolerance between Desiccation-Sensitive and Desiccation-Tolerant Tardigrades," Zoological Science 42(1), (18 October 2024). https://doi.org/10.2108/zs240056
Received: 26 June 2024; Accepted: 8 August 2024; Published: 18 October 2024
KEYWORDS
Adaptation
cross tolerance
Desiccation
radiation
tardigrade
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top