Research reveals tardigrade genetic armor against extreme radiation

Tardigrades, eight-legged creatures, are some of the toughest creatures on Earth, able to survive in the harshest conditions.

One of their rare abilities is resistance to radiation. They can tolerate levels thousands of times higher than would be harmful to humans.

Scientists are interested in this superpower, which can help in the design of equipment for human spaceship.

Recent research on a newly discovered species of tardigrade, H. henanensisshed light on the secrets behind this incredible endurance.

Gene identification

There are more than 1,500 known species of these tardigrades, also known as “water bears.”

Amazingly, these organisms are unusually resistant to gamma rays, tolerating levels a thousand times higher than the lethal dose for humans.

In the past, scientists have discovered that they have powerful DNA repair mechanisms and a unique protein called Dsup, which protects their DNA from radiation damage. However, many aspects of their ability to withstand radiation are still a mystery. But H. henanensis revealed more.

In this new study, the National Institute of Protein Science (Beijing) and Shaanxi Xueqian Normal University researchers conducted a morphological and molecular analysis of this newly discovered species.

With this study, they planned to examine the basic principle of this type of radiation tolerance.

The researchers exposed the tardigrades to high-energy ion radiation and analyzed their molecular activity. They found that 285 genes related to the stress response were activated. This suggests that these genes play an important role in helping the tardigrade survive and repair radiation damage.

Molecular mechanisms

According to a press release, the team also identified three key molecular mechanisms that underlie the radio tolerance of organisms.

First, this species acquired a gene, DODA1, from bacteria through a process called direct gene transfer. This type allows the tardigrades to produce betalains, which are pigments with strong antioxidant properties.

These antioxidants help protect tardigrades from the harmful effects of radiation by reducing harmful free radicals.

In addition, tardigrades have a unique protein, TDP1, that specializes in repairing severe DNA damage, known as double-strand breaks. This efficient repair process is essential for their survival after exposure to radiation.

Also, a specific mitochondrial gene, BCS1, has become more active in response to radiation. This gene helps protect mitochondria, the cell’s powerhouse, from damage caused by radiation.

“The extreme environmental resistance of extremophiles such as tardigrades is a treasure trove of unknown molecular mechanisms of stress resistance,” the academic paper noted. “Effective research on these mechanisms of radiotolerance … will expand our understanding of the survival of the body’s cells under extreme conditions and may provide an incentive to promote the health of people and fight disease.”

These radiation-resistant genes have great potential for applications in human health, space exploration, agriculture and medicine.

By studying the unique ways tardigrades protect themselves from radiation, scientists may be able to develop new tools and technologies to protect scientists from the harmful effects of atmospheric radiation on the moon.

The Moon does not have an atmosphere to protect it from the Sun’s harmful rays, especially during a solar flare. It is also hit by cosmic rays, which are high-energy particles from distant galaxies. Without protection, these particles can penetrate the human body and cause tissue damage.

Tardigrades can lead to the development of biotechnology that helps astronauts, such as producing drugs to combat the effects of space radiation or genetic engineering techniques to enhance human strength.