Modulating Radiation Resistance: Novel Protection Paradigms Based on Defenses against Ionizing Radiation in the Extrempohile Deinococcus radiodurans

Abstract

In 2012-2013, we demonstrated that (1) Mn2+ complexes in living D. radiodurans cells are distinctly different from those in radiosensitive cells. As demonstrated by ENDOR/EPR/ESEEM spectroscopy, Mn2+ in D. radiodurans is bound mainly to nitrogenous ligans, forming complexes with orthophosphate (Pi) which are extremely resistant to gamma-radiation and preserve the D. radiodurans proteome. This work was published in PNAS USA (2013); (2) Many environmental yeast are extremely radiation-resistant, accumulate nitrogenous Mn2+-Pi complexes, and highly resistant to radiation-induced protein oxidation; (3) The radioprotective nature of Mn-peptide complexes is more dependent on the amino acid composition than the order of amino acids. A variety of decapeptide sequences were screened for their ability to protect protein structure and function following exposure to megadoses of ionizing radiation; and (4) The Mn-peptide-Pi vaccine approach developed for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), published in Cell Host and Microbe (2012), was successfully applied to Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 2013
Accession Number
ADA589920

Entities

People

  • Michael J. Daly

Organizations

  • Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amino Acids
  • Bacteria
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Encephalitis
  • Equine Encephalitis
  • Free Radicals
  • Ionizing Radiation
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Medical Personnel
  • Microorganisms
  • National Security
  • Nucleosides
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Paramagnetic Resonance
  • Vaccines
  • Viruses

Readers

  • Molecular Genetics
  • Nuclear and Radiation Engineering.
  • Organic Chemistry

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology