| Author: Agnieszka Sikora, PhD |<\/span><\/p>\n As part of the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), in which Polish astronaut S\u0142awosz Uzna\u0144ski-Wi\u015bniewski, PhD is participating, 13 scientific experiments developed by Polish companies and universities will be carried out. Among the research to be conducted by the Polish astronaut is the Yeast TardigradeGene project, involving scientists from the University of Silesia in Katowice.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Yeast TardigradeGene project was born in 2020, when Izabela Poprawa, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof. from the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the University of Silesia, was invited by Prof. Ewa Szuszkiewicz from the University of Szczecin to participate in the MAESTRO grant. The project involved sending various types of organisms, including tardigrades, into space. Unfortunately, funding could not be secured at that time. Several months ago, the topic resurfaced with the announcement of call for proposals for scientific experiments on the International Space Station (ISS).<\/p>\n The project is being carried out by a consortium of three universities: the University of Szczecin \u2013 Prof. Ewa Szuszkiewicz (leader) and Franco Ferrari, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof. of the University of Szczecin, Adam Mickiewicz University in Pozna\u0144 \u2013 Prof. Hanna Kmita, \u0141ukasz Kaczmarek, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof. of the Adam Mickiewicz University, Nina Antos-Krzemi\u0144ska, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof. of the Adam Mickiewicz University, Andonis Karachitos, PhD, DSc, Anna Kici\u0144ska, PhD and the University of Silesia in Katowice \u2013 Izabela Poprawa, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof.<\/p>\n \u201cI invited microbiologist Katarzyna Kasperkiewicz, PhD, DSc, to join my team. I also included young scientists: my graduate students Anna Krakowska and Alper Arslan, and doctoral student Filip Wieczorkiewicz.\u201d<\/p>\n \n<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″]\r\n Yeast \u2013 photo taken with a transmission electron microscope | Photo by Prof. Izabela Poprawa<\/span><\/p>\n \n<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″]\r\n The team of researchers from the University of Silesia in Katowice | Photo by A. Chachulska-\u017byme\u0142ka<\/span><\/p>\n \n<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″]\r\n The team of researchers from Adam Mickiewicz University in Pozna\u0144 and the University of Szczecin | Photo by G. Figura<\/span><\/p>\n \n<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″]\r\n \u201cWhile studying tardigrades, which have a very high survival rate in extremely adverse conditions, we began to wonder whether the various proteins that help them survive could also help other organisms,\u201d recalls the biologist from the University of Silesia. \u201cThis gave us the idea of creating a genetically modified organism that would contain a tardigrade gene encoding one of the proteins responsible for the survival of tardigrades in extreme conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n The scientists chose Saccharomyces cerevisiae <\/em>yeast. Yeast is the simplest model of a eukaryotic cell, which is used in research, including on various issues related to humans. As for tardigrade proteins, the researchers decided on alternative oxidase (AOX)<\/em>. This enzyme is present in the mitochondria of plants, but also in some invertebrates, including nematodes, annelids and tardigrades. It provides an alternative way of transferring electrons from ubiquinone to oxygen. Unlike the typical cytochrome oxidase found in mitochondria and responsible for the respiratory chain, alternative oxidase is independent of inhibitors such as cyanide. Small amounts of cyanide in humans block cellular respiration. In the case of alternative oxidase, they do not block it, so cells can continue to function properly. Such a gene has been introduced into yeast. This yeast, together with a control group, i.e. yeast that does not have this gene, will be sent to the International Space Station to test how the new yeast strain will cope with microgravity and radiation.<\/p>\n The full name of the project is: \u2018Before we fly to Mars: Can tardigrades help other organisms survive in space?\u2019\u00a0 By creating yeast that is more resistant to space conditions than ordinary yeast, scientists want to create a strain that could be used in the future as, for example, a biofactory for food during long space missions or at various types of bases that humanity plans to build in the future on the Moon and other planets, and which could also be a source of fuel.<\/p>\n Before this happens, however, there are many problems to be solved. One of them is definitely radiation. Yeast has not yet been studied in this regard. That being said, tardigrades have been studied from this angle, and we know that in a state of anhydrobiosis, i.e. in a dried state, exposure to radiation does not cause any changes. Tardigrades wake up and live. It is alternative oxidase that is one of the proteins responsible for tardigrades entering a state of anhydrobiosis. Scientists hope that it may also protect yeast cells from radiation.<\/p>\n Tardigrades are like space pirates. They can survive very high and very low temperatures. As long as they do not encounter water and are in the form of so-called barrel cysts, i.e. in an anhydrobiotic state, they can survive for up to several decades. Tardigrades also cope very well with freezing and can function normally after thawing.<\/p>\n \n<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″]\r\n Preparation of yeast | Photo by Prof. Andonis Karachitos<\/span><\/p>\n \n<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″]\r\n Prepared yeast | Photyo by Prof. Andonis Karachitos<\/span><\/p>\n \n<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″]\r\n A box containing 40 vials with nutrient medium and inoculated yeast will be transported to the ISS. First, however, everything had to be properly packed and sent to Cape Canaveral in the United States. The yeast must be transported at a low temperature (approx. 4\u00b0C) to prevent it from multiplying prematurely and using up the nutrient medium before the experiment begins. In orbit, S\u0142awosz Uzna\u0144ski-Wi\u015bniewski, PhD will be responsible for launching the experiment: transferring the vials from the refrigerator, monitoring the conditions (temperature, radiation, time in microgravity), and then safely returning the samples to Earth. The entire study set will then return to Earth and to the laboratory, where scientists from the Yeast TardigradeGene project will analyse what has actually come back.<\/p>\n “First of all, we hope that the yeast will survive,” says Izabela Poprawa, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof. \u201cAfter their return, we will see how they managed up there. We will check their viability, i.e. whether they will multiply in the same way as the control group, or perhaps even better. We will also check the functioning of the mitochondria. These are cellular organelles which, in the event of stress, are usually the first to start functioning less efficiently. We want to check whether the conditions on the ISS have caused any changes in the ultrastructure of these cells, i.e. whether the mitochondria have been damaged. If damage has occurred, we want to see whether the cells are able to compensate for it and activate processes that allow them to regenerate or remove damaged organelles and develop healthy ones. Do they activate the autophagy process, which causes the digestion of damaged organelles so as not to destroy the cell? Alternatively, is the process of cell death activated? This is another thing we also have to take into account,\u201d explains the biologist.<\/p>\n The Yeast TardigradeGene project is not only a biological experiment, but also a test of the perseverance and creativity of scientists. The project shows that even the smallest details \u2013 from the composition of the yeast medium to the shape of the packaging \u2013 matter in space conditions. And the success of this type of mission opens the door to further, increasingly ambitious research beyond Earth.<\/p>\n \n<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″]\r\n Yeast ready for the mission | Photo by: Prof. Andonis Karachitos<\/span><\/p>\n \n<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″]\r\n Yeast prepared for shipment to the ISS | Photo by: Prof. Ewa Szuszkiewicz<\/span><\/p>\n \n<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_separator]\r\n Article \u2018The gene of space pirates\u2019 will be published in the June issue of USil Magazine<\/em> No. 9 (329).<\/p>\n \n<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_separator][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row] […]<\/p>\n![\"dro\u017cd\u017ce](\"https:\/\/us.edu.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/fotografie\/drozdze-transmisyjny-mikroskop-elektronowy-foto-I_Poprawa_.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Zesp\u00f3\u0142](\"https:\/\/us.edu.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/fotografie\/Zespol-US_foto-A_Chachulska-Zymelka_.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Zesp\u00f3\u0142](\"https:\/\/us.edu.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/fotografie\/Zespol-UAM-w-Poznaniu-i-Uniwersytet-Szczecinski_foto-G_Figura_.jpg\")
<\/p>\nYeast with the tardigrade gene<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"zbli\u017cenie](\"https:\/\/us.edu.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/fotografie\/Przygotowanie-drozdzy-foto-A_Karachitos-676x900.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"prob\u00f3wki](\"https:\/\/us.edu.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/fotografie\/Przygotowane-drozdze_-foto-A_Karachitos-676x900.jpg\")
<\/p>\nReady for launch<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"d\u0142onie](\"https:\/\/us.edu.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/fotografie\/Drozdze-gotowe-do-misji_foto-A_Karachitos-900x675.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"pude\u0142ko,](\"https:\/\/us.edu.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/fotografie\/Drozdze-przygotowane-do-wysylki-na-ISS-foto_E_Szuszkiewicz_-e1748333388632.jpg\")
<\/p>\n