Resisting Radiation Through Tardigrade DSUP

Le résumé fourni par la source

Tardigrades are microscopic organisms that have the ability to deactivate their metabolism in order to survive extreme temperatures and more importantly, produce Damage Suppressor Protein (DSUP) that gives them resistance to radiation. DSUP is located in the Chromatin and protects DNA from radiation in a protective cloud [1, 2]. It has been isolated and its structure and physical properties have been presented in the opensource UniProt database [3]. This not only offers a visual picture of the protein but also provides clues for extracting DSUP from Tardigrades and incorporating it into protective sunscreens. Using that as a starting point, presented here in poster format are the results of our preliminary research. Our plan is to incorporate the DSUP protein in a lotion to obtain radiation resistance and protection. For this project cultured tardigrades were observed and radiation resistance evaluated using commercially available classroom materials [4]. Optical images of our culture can be seen by accessing the QR code. Commercial sunscreens as well as supplies of their ingredients were purchase along with readily available UV reactive beads [5]. In order to ensure the survivability of the Tardigrades, we stressed our colony under conditions described in the literature [6]. We reserved a group of 30 as our control and tested 60 under varying conditions. To test for ultraviolet radiation resistance we used a commercially available UV light used to cure finger nail treatments (polish). Temperature was tested in water baths. Tardigrades were heated in separate baths at 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, and 120 degrees Celsius. All Tardigrades tolerated the extreme heat because they were able to enter a cryptobiotic state, and survive radiation by producing DSUP [7]. Subsequently all of the cultures continued to lay eggs. Shown in the QR image are Tardigrades under the UV light (Fig. 1). Three lotions were tested; a commercial product with SPF 40, and two prepared in the lab with the ingredients used to make commercial sunscreen such as lysine, arginine, zinc oxide, coconut oil, and aloe vera gel. One lotion contained Tardigrade protein including DSUP taken after concentration in a centrifuge and the other did not. Clear plastic beads containing a UV sensitive pigment were coated with each lotion and exposed to UV light for up to five minutes. The graph (Fig. 2) qualitatively shows the effectiveness of the sunscreens (y-axis) and the time they were exposed to the light (x-axis). The UV beads were clear before exposure and would change color after being exposed. The longer they were in the light the darker they became. The beads with the pre-made sunscreen and the lab-made sunscreen looked about the same after prolonged exposure, but the beads with the Tardigrade protein were lighter and less affected. There is still much more testing to be done. We plan use gel electrophoresis to purify and test DSUP and with the help of research supporter JEOL USA we hope to develop more quantitative analytical data [8]. Our Tardigrade colony remained robust and active during exposure to UV radiation and after heat stress in high temperature water baths. The colony continued to lay eggs through the course of the investigation. Our lab-prepared mixture with Tardigrade protein inhibited color change in the UV sensitive beads more than the commercial sunscreen and the mixture without Tardigrade protein. During exposure the pigment changed from faint to bright and then to a dark color depending on the intensity and duration of the exposure.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.