A new study has uncovered the secret behind Deinococcus radiodurans’ extraordinary ability to withstand extreme radiation. The bacterium, dubbed “Conan the Bacterium,” can survive doses of radiation thousands of times higher than what would kill a human. Researchers at Northwestern University and the Uniformed Services University have discovered how this antioxidant works.
The key to Deinococcus radiodurans’ resistance lies in its ability to combine simple metabolites with manganese to form a powerful antioxidant. Chemists at Northwestern University have created a synthetic designer antioxidant called MDP, which is inspired by Deinococcus radiodurans’ resilience.
In the new study, researchers found that MDP’s components—manganese ions, phosphate and a small peptide—form a ternary complex that provides more protection against radiation damage than manganese combined with either of the other individual components alone.
This breakthrough discovery could lead to new synthetic antioxidants specifically tailored for human needs. Applications include protecting astronauts from intense cosmic radiation during deep-space missions, preparing for radiation emergencies, and producing radiation-inactivated vaccines.
The study’s findings suggest that adding a third component to the combination of manganese ions and phosphate makes it more effective at protecting cells and proteins against radiation damage. This new understanding of MDP could lead to the development of even more potent manganese-based antioxidants for applications in health care, industry, defense, and space exploration.
Researchers believe that this discovery is a significant step towards developing more effective methods for dealing with radiation exposure in various fields.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2024-12-conan-bacterium-combines-simple-metabolites.html