Tardigrade CAHS hydrogels protect proteins through concentration-dependent mechanism

A family of tardigrade-specific intrinsically disordered proteins, termed cytoplasmic abundant heat soluble (CAHS) proteins, are believed to protect and preserve tardigrade's cellular components through desiccation. However, the mechanism driving the protective capabilities of these proteins remains unclear. Using fast relaxation imaging (FReI), fluorescence microscopy coupled to a laser-induced temperature jump, we quantify the changes in crowding, confinement, and protein stability that occur as a function of CAHS D concentration inside bacterial cells.