Life From Dust

Common bread yeast may lead some day to plants with genetically engineered ways of surviving complete dehydration. UC Davis researchers John H. and Lois M. Crowe study the biochemistry and biophysics of extreme drought tolerance in yeast, pollen and brine shrimp (which are sold as magic "sea monkeys" in the back of certain comic books). Some dehydrated cells live only a day or two; some last more than 10 years until water brings them back to life. Virtually all organisms that can revive from dusty states have certain sugars in their cells and bodies that substitute for missing water molecules. The Crowes are tracing the sugar-transport mechanism back to the gene responsible for producing it. Applications to plants are about a decade away, estimates John Crowe.

Media Resources

Andy Fell, Research news (emphasis: biological and physical sciences, and engineering), 530-752-4533, ahfell@ucdavis.edu