Figure 2

Desiccation-induced trehalose synthesis in the larvae. (A–D) Representative UPLC-QToF-MS chromatograms indicating the detection of trehalose in the midge larvae. Trehalose was identified as [M + Na]⁺ adduct with mass accuracy −0.43 ppm with confirmatory ions (203.05248 Da, 145.04906 Da and 85.02768 Da). (A) Standard trehalose solution. (B) Undesiccated control (C) 50 min desiccation. (D) 5 h rehydration. (E) High trehalose content was prominent during desiccation exposure followed by rapid decline upon rehydration. Data represented are mean ± SD of three replicates (a = p < 0.05 vs 50 min desiccation). (F) TPS and TREH enzyme activities (U/mg protein) during desiccation and rehydration. Data represented are mean ± SD of three replicates (a = p < 0.05 vs 40 min desiccation for TPS; b = p < 0.05 vs 3 h rehydration for TREH). (G) Fold induction of tps transcripts during desiccation and rehydration. Data represented are mean ± SD of three replicates (a = p < 0.05 vs 40 min desiccation). Undesiccated control values were set to 1 against which all other values were compared. The results were represented as fold induction relative to tubulin. (H) Fold induction of treh transcripts during desiccation and rehydration. Data represented are mean ± SD of three replicates (a = p < 0.05 vs 2 h rehydration). Undesiccated control values were set to 1 against which all other values were compared. The results were represented as fold induction relative to tubulin.