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Low-temperature preservation strategy and adaptation mechanisms of the basal metazoan Trichoplax adhaerens

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  • 1. Fang Zongxi Center, MoE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Qingdao 266071, China

    2. Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China

Online published: 2026-08-05

Supported by

Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 32500727)

Abstract

Trichoplax adhaerens is one of the earliest-branching extant multicellular animals and represents an important evolutionary model for investigating the origin of animal multicellularity, cell-type evolution, and intercellular coordination. However, under laboratory conditions, Trichoplax cultures are still maintained primarily by manual passaging, and the lack of a reliable medium- to long-term preservation strategy limits both experimental continuity and resource sharing. In this study, we used T. adhaerens Grell strain/H1 to examine temperature-dependent changes in growth, behavior, and gene expression, with the aim of evaluating the feasibility of low-temperature preservation. Compared with conventional culture conditions, cultivation at 16°C markedly reduced locomotor activity and growth rate while preserving basic physiological functions. Behavioral and transcriptomic analyses further indicated that Trichoplax responds to low temperature by downregulating carbohydrate- and lipid-metabolism-related processes, thereby slowing growth and developmental progression. Upon return to standard culture temperature, low-temperature-treated individuals rapidly resumed normal growth activity. Based on these findings, we further optimized a low-temperature preservation strategy that enabled stable survival of Trichoplax for more than two months without manual intervention. This study provides a practical approach for the preservation and long-term maintenance of  Trichoplax, establishing a technical basis for its wider application as an experimental model organism. 

Cite this article

Duyang Wang, Zhixuan Qin, Chengtian Zhao, Minjun Jin . Low-temperature preservation strategy and adaptation mechanisms of the basal metazoan Trichoplax adhaerens[J]. Hereditas(Beijing), 0 : 0 . DOI: 10.16288/j.yczz.26-129

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