| Panagrolaimus superbus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Nematoda |
| Class: | Secernentea |
| Order: | Tylenchida |
| Family: | Panagrolaimidae |
| Genus: | Panagrolaimus |
| Species: | P. superbus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Panagrolaimus superbus | |
Panagrolaimus superbus is a species of terrestrial free-living nematode (roundworm). P. superbus, like other species within the Panagrolaimus genus, exhibits the ability to enter anhydrobiosis for extended periods of time.[2]
P. superbus is a non-parasitic terrestrial bacterivore, commonly found on grasses such as rye.[3][4] It is found in continental Europe, as well as Surtsey, Iceland.[5][3]
In order to combat rapid desiccation, P. superbus has several constitutive genes that allow the accumulation of trehalose, even under normal metabolic circumstances, that acts as a protective layer and an intracellular protection mechanism.[5][6] P. superbus also has several inducible genes that upregulate in response to desiccation, genes responsible for enzymes such as gpx, dj1 and 1 Cys-Prx to help scavenge and reduce reactive oxygen species, mitogen-activated protein kinases that phosphorylate heat shock proteins such as Hsp27 to stabilise microfilaments, and casein kinase 2 that helps in DNA repair, among others.[7] P. superbus's ability to enter anhydriobiosis has given it polyextremotolerance, a tolerance of various extreme environments, being the first multi-cellular organism able to withstand immersion and reproduce in heavy water, albeit with a reduced metabolic rate, withstand immersion in gallium, and tolerate g-forces up to 400,000 times the Earth's.[8][9][10]