Tardigrade Protein Protects Healthy Cells from Radiation Damage

Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the University of Iowa have developed a strategy that could help mitigate radiation-induced damage by harnessing a unique protein found in tardigrades, microscopic organisms renowned for their resilience.

Tardigrades, often referred to as water bears, can survive radiation exposure thanks to the damage suppressor protein, Dsup, which binds to DNA and shields it from radiation-induced breaks.

“The Dsup protein, which binds directly to DNA and reduces radiation-induced strand breaks, immediately struck us as a promising tool to mitigate normal tissue injury during radiotherapy,” Giovanni Traverso, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at MIT and a gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, explained.

Inspired by the protective function of Dsup, the researchers investigated whether it could be delivered to tissues to protect cells from DNA damage. Rather than injecting the Dsup protein directly, they focused their efforts on delivering mRNA to tissues to temporarily produce the Dsup protein. This approach would provide short-term protection during radiation treatment without permanently altering the cells or DNA.

To improve mRNA delivery and transfection efficiency, the team screened various nanoparticle formulations, combining polymer and lipid components. Ultimately they identified two delivery particles optimized for delivery to the colon or oral tissues. When injected into mice, these nanoparticles successfully delivered Dsup-encoding mRNA, resulting in temporary protein expression in the targeted tissues.

Zdroj obrázku: S. Mihulka with Zoner AI Image Generator, CC0.