Fig. 5: HSP21 and HSP24.6 limit desiccation-induced protein aggregation.
From: Tardigrade small heat shock proteins can limit desiccation-induced protein aggregation
Light scattering (A340) values indicate aggregation of 5 µM citrate synthase over two rounds of desiccation and rehydration and the effects of adding HSP17 (a), HSP21 (b), HSP24.6 (c), BSA (d), or lysozyme (e). f After two rounds of desiccation and rehydration, the change in A340 across a range of concentration of additives showed an effect of concentration on aggregation for HSP17 (p = 0.03, 1-way ANOVA, n = 3–9), HSP24.6 (p = 0.003, 1-way ANOVA, n = 4–9), and BSA (p < 0.001, 1-way ANOVA, n = 4–9). g Citrate synthase was protected from desiccation-induced loss of function when supplemented with 10 µM HSP17 (p = 0.009), 5 µM HSP21 (p < 0.001),10 µM HSP21 (p < 0.001), 1 µM HSP24.6 (p = 0.05), 10 µM HSP24.6 (p < 0.001), 1 µM BSA (p = 0.006), 5 µM BSA (p < 0.001), or 10 µM BSA (p < 0.001). Enzyme activity is plotted as a percentage of non-desiccated citrate synthase. P-values resulted from Dunnett’s tests comparing to desiccated CS alone, n = 5–10. Mean values and standard deviation are plotted in (a–g). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.
