IOCAS Team Identifies ND1 Gene Behind 5-Year Deep-Sea Isopod Fasting
Updated
Updated · dongascience.com · Jun 6
IOCAS Team Identifies ND1 Gene Behind 5-Year Deep-Sea Isopod Fasting
2 articles · Updated · dongascience.com · Jun 6
Summary
Cell published IOCAS findings showing supergiant deep-sea isopods survive more than five years without food by combining massive storage capacity, ultra-low metabolism and a bacteria-derived ND1 gene.
Two Bathynomus species revealed stomachs occupying about two thirds of the body, letting the animals gorge when food appears and digest a mud-like mass over long periods.
Metabolic analyses showed the isopods sharply cut basal energy use after feeding, while gut microbes linked to fat storage were abundant and digestion-related bacteria were relatively scarce.
ND1 experiments in zebrafish, nematodes and human cells found the gene boosts energy metabolism at room temperature but suppresses mitochondrial activity in cold conditions; zebrafish carrying it were 37% more starvation-resistant.
The team said the work offers a new example of deep-sea evolution, showing how a large animal can balance growth and survival in a nutrient-poor, low-temperature environment.