Genome analysis of chironomid midge Polypedilum nubifer

Anhydrobiosis is a unique ametabolic state, allowing a living organism to maintain viability even after loosing more than 97% of the water from its body. Although anhydrobiotic organisms are found in many taxa ranging from unicellular organisms to higher invertebrates and plants, no anhydrobiotic vertebrate species other than Polypedilum vanderplanki have been found. Many researches focusing on mechanisms underlying anhydrobiosis have been carried out, the molecular mechanisms underpinning anhydrobiosis are not yet completely understood. In order to understand genome-wide adaptation to anhydrobiosis of P. vanderplanki, we started genome sequencing of two species of the genus Polypedilum, i.e. the anhydrobiotic P. vanderplanki and desiccation-sensitive Polypedilum nubifer.