Extremophile lifeforms on Earth are capable of rather astounding feats, with the secret behind the extreme radiation resistance of one of them now finally teased out by researchers. As one of the most impressive extremophiles, Deinococcus radiodurans is able to endure ionizing radiation levels thousands of times higher than what would decisively kill a multicellular organism like us humans. The trick is the antioxidant which this bacterium synthesizes from multiple metabolites that combine with manganese. An artificial version of this antioxidant has now been created that replicates the protective effect.
The ternary complex dubbed MDP consists of manganese ions, phosphate and a small peptide, which so far has seen application in creating vaccines for chlamydia. As noted in a 2023 study in Radiation Medicine and Protection by [Feng Liu] et al. however, the D. radiodurans bacterium has more survival mechanisms than just this antioxidant. Although much of the ionizing radiation is neutralized this way, it can not be fully prevented. This is where the highly effective DNA repair mechanism comes into play, along with a range of other adaptations.
The upshot of this is the synthesis of a very effective and useful antioxidant, but as alluded to in the press releases, just injecting humans with MDP will not instantly give them the same super powers as our D. radiodurans buddy.
Featured image: Survival mechanisms in Deinococcus radiodurans bacterium. (Credit: Feng Liu et al., 2023)
Not a hack at all…
Till we try it on ourselves. Chernobyl may be livable again.
Did you mean Pripyat? Chernobyl is the name of the nuclear reactor, Pripyat is the nearest city which has been evacuated and remains a ghost city since 1986
The original name was the “V. I. Lenin Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant”.
Actually, Chernobyl (now Chornobyl) is the name of the city, many kilometres away from Pripyat. The Chernobyl (now Chornobyl) Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP) is the NPP adjacent to Pripyat. The city of Chornobyl is still in the exclusion zone, but maintains basic services with some residents living there.
I found the hack in the comments (it’s you)
Feels like Fallout might not have been far off (except maybe timescale) and we’d end up with creatures immune to radiation if everywhere became radioactive.
A much more significant factor in their resistance to ionizing radiation is the fact their genome is a single circular chromosome. This makes them much more resistant to DNA double strand breaks, the most serious, and difficult to fix issue from ionizing radiation.
Fascinating. Is there anywhere you know offhand where I could read more about this?
I wonder how it compares to glutathione, and how long it will take before some supplement monger puts it into a capsule
Out by Christmas?
Wikipedia lists 33 things for which MDP is an abbreviation. Adding another is irresponsible.