Antioxidant defense of : how does it contribute to extreme radiation resistance?

PURPOSE

is an extremely radioresistant bacterium characterized by D of 10 kGy, and able to grow luxuriantly under chronic ionizing radiation of 60 Gy/h. The aim of this article is to review the antioxidant system of and its possible role in the unusual resistance of this bacterium to ionizing radiation.

CONCLUSIONS

The unusual radiation resistance of has apparently evolved as a side effect of the adaptation of this extremophile to other damaging environmental factors, especially desiccation. The antioxidant proteins and low-molecular antioxidants (especially low-molecular weight Mn complexes and carotenoids, in particular, deinoxanthin), as well as protein and non-protein regulators, are important for the antioxidant defense of this species. Antioxidant protection of proteins from radiation inactivation enables the repair of DNA damage caused by ionizing radiation.