Hyperprolinemic larvae of the drosophilid fly, Chymomyza costata, survive cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen

0362689 - BC 2012 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Košťál, Vladimír - Zahradníčková, Helena - Šimek, Petr
Hyperprolinemic larvae of the drosophilid fly, Chymomyza costata, survive cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. Roč. 108, č. 32 (2011), s. 13041-13046. ISSN 0027-8424. E-ISSN 1091-6490
R&D Projects: GA ČR GA206/07/0269; GA ČR GA203/09/2014
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z50070508
Keywords : insect freeze tolerance * cold hardiness * glass transition
Subject RIV: ED - Physiology
Impact factor: 9.681, year: 2011

The larva of the drosophilid fly, Chymomyza costata, is probably the most complex metazoan organism that can survive submergence in liquid nitrogen (-196°C) in a fully hydrated state. We examined the associations between the physiological and biochemical parameters of differently acclimated larvae and their freeze tolerance. Profiling of 61 different metabolites identified proline as a prominent compound whose concentration increased from 20 to 147 mM during diapause transition and subsequent cold acclimation. This study provides direct evidence for the essential role of proline in high freeze tolerance. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis suggested that high proline levels, in combination with a relatively low content of osmotically active water and freeze dehydration, increased the propensity of the remaining unfrozen water to undergo a glass-like transition (vitrification) and thus facilitated the prevention of cryoinjury.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0198942