Madison Reporter

A group of ancient microscopic animals known as tardigrades, or water bears, is assisting scientists in improving modern technology. These organisms can withstand extreme temperatures due to specialized molecules they produce called late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins. These proteins protect their cellular structures and allow them to survive harsh conditions by going dormant and reanimating when favorable conditions return.

In a study published in Nature Communications, University of Wisconsin–Madison researcher Ci Ji Lim explored the potential of these proteins in cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). This technique captures images of proteins by freezing samples but faces challenges at the air-water interface where damage often occurs. "A lot of times, the protein is attracted to the air-water interface," Lim explains. "When proteins interact with this interface, they can clump together along the edges or begin to unfold and irreversibly change their form."

Lim's team added LEA proteins to samples containing Polα-primase and PRC2 proteins. They found that this approach yielded clearer images without needing high concentrations or costly methods. "Adding LEA proteins is a readily deployable and cost-effective solution to a bottleneck in cryo-EM research," Lim states.

Tim Grant, who collaborated on the study, notes that even with LEA proteins present, biomolecules remain intact at the air-water interface. He anticipates further insights as more researchers adopt this method: "The air-water interface is a real problem, and water bears have offered a pretty cool solution."

This advancement could revitalize previously stalled research projects. "Now there's new hope for exploring protein structures that we couldn't before," says Lim.