Tracing the serendipitous genesis of radiation resistance

• Published in: Molecular microbiology 2024-01, Vol.121 (1), p.142-151
• Main Authors: Ujaoney, Aman Kumar, Anaganti, Narasimha, Padwal, Mahesh Kumar, Basu, Bhakti
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anthropogenic factors; Damage; Deinococcus; Deinococcus radiodurans; Desiccation; desiccation resistance; DNA Repair; Environmental factors; Evolution; exaptation; gamma radiation resistance; Hyperthermophiles; Ionizing radiation; Radiation; Radiation Tolerance; Radiation, Ionizing; Radioactive materials; Radioactive tracers; Radioresistance; ROS detoxification
• ISSN: 0950-382X; 1365-2958
• DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15208

Free‐living organisms frequently encounter unfavorable abiotic environmental factors. Those who adapt and cope with sudden changes in the external environment survive. Desiccation is one of the most common and frequently encountered stresses in nature. On the contrary, ionizing radiations are limited to high local concentrations of naturally occurring radioactive materials and related anthropogenic activities. Yet, resistance to high doses of ionizing radiation is evident across the tree of life. The evolution of desiccation resistance has been linked to the evolution of ionizing radiation resistance, although, evidence to support the idea that the evolution of desiccation tolerance is a necessary precursor to ionizing radiation resistance is lacking. Moreover, the presence of radioresistance in hyperthermophiles suggests multiple paths lead to radiation resistance. In this minireview, we focus on the molecular aspects of damage dynamics and damage response pathways comprising protective and restorative functions with a definitive survival advantage, to explore the serendipitous genesis of ionizing radiation resistance. The emergence of radiation resistance across the tree of life is enigmatic. In this mini‐review, we summarized the current understanding of the stress‐induced damage and response pathways to explore a link between resistance to desiccation and heat (symbol) and radio‐resistance. We propose that effective management of ROS and maintenance of genome integrity are major features originally evolved to survive desiccation and/or heat but also endowed radiation resistance.