A research group led by Assistant Professor Shingo Kikuta of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, in collaboration with the Agricultural Research Organization, Kazan University (Russia), and RIKEN, artificially introduced cells established from the insect Nemuriyusurika, which can be revived even when dried. It was demonstrated that the activity of the enzyme can be protected almost completely even under dry conditions.As a result, enzymes and antibodies that have been required to be refrigerated / frozen can be dried at room temperature and stored for a long period of time.
Enzymes are biocatalysts that promote chemical reactions.It needs to be transported and stored under low temperature conditions to avoid denaturation.On the other hand, cultured cells made from Polypedilum vanderplanki, which can be resuscitated even after drying, show resistance to desiccation.It was unclear whether the activity of the enzyme artificially introduced into these cells could be protected even under dry conditions.
The research team chose luciferase as an enzyme that breaks during desiccation, and established stable expression of polypedilum vanderplanki (Pv11-Luc).The cells were soaked in a high concentration trehalose solution to dehydrate them into a glassy state.After placing silica gel in a dry box at 25 ° C for 1 year or more, water was added to restore the cells to their original state.As a result, the cells were resuscitated and the activity of luciferase was also detected.This enzyme activity was dependent on the number of surviving cells.This indicates that if the cultured cells of Polypedilum vanderplanki survive, luciferase can be protected almost completely.
This achievement will be applied to energy-free enzyme storage technology by combining the drought-tolerant function of Polypedilum vanderplanki and trehalose.In the future, it is expected to be applied to the storage of biological materials such as medical diagnostic enzymes and antibodies that are desired to be refrigerated / frozen, and to the stable storage and transportation in areas where power supply is scarce or in the event of a disaster.
