Transcriptome analysis of Pv11 cells infers the mechanism of desiccation tolerance and recovery

ABSTRACT

Some organisms, such as larvae of the African midge Polypedilum vanderplanki, can enter an ametabolic state called anhydro-biosis to conquer fatal desiccation stress. In 2010, the Pv11 cell line was established, which was derived from embryos of the midge. Desiccated Pv11 cells pretreated with medium containing 600 mM trehalose resume proliferation after rehydration. The desiccation tolerance of Pv11 cells includes tolerance induction by trehalose treatment and recovery after rehydration. To address the underlying molecular mechanisms, we performed CAGE-seq of mRNA from Pv11 cells first treated with trehalose, then desiccated, and finally rehydrated, and analysed differentially expressed genes (DEGs). We detected 384 DEGs after trehalose treatment and 14 DEGs after rehydration. Hierarchical clustering of the identified DEGs indicated that rehydration returns their expression pattern to that in the control culture state. DEGs involved in various stress responses, detoxification of harmful chemicals, and regulation of oxidoreduction were upregulated by trehalose treatment. DEGs for rehydration revealed that DNA repair may be involved in recovery. This study provided initial insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the extreme desiccation tolerance of Pv11 cells with a potential for proliferation following rehydration.