Dose K, Bieger-Dose A, Labusch M, Gill M
Institute for Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany.
Adv Space Res. 1992;12(4):221-9. doi: 10.1016/0273-1177(92)90176-x.
A wide variety of organisms (the so-called "anhydrobiotes') is able to survive long periods of time in a state of utmost dehydration and can thus survive in extremely dry environments including artificially imposed or space vacuum. Known strategies of survival include the accumulation of certain polyols, especially disaccharides, which help prevent damage to membranes and proteins. Here we report that DNA in vacuum-dried spores is damaged to a very substantial degree by processes leading to DNA strand breaks. Most of these lesions are obviously repaired during germination, but extensive damage to DNA and enzymes after long exposure times (months to years) finally diminish the chances of survival.
各种各样的生物体（即所谓的“隐生生物”）能够在极度脱水的状态下存活很长时间，因此能够在包括人工制造的或太空真空等极端干燥的环境中生存。已知的生存策略包括积累某些多元醇，尤其是二糖，这有助于防止对膜和蛋白质的损伤。在此我们报告，真空干燥孢子中的DNA会因导致DNA链断裂的过程而受到非常严重的损伤。这些损伤中的大多数在萌发过程中显然会被修复，但长时间暴露（数月至数年）后对DNA和酶的广泛损伤最终会降低生存几率。
