Multivalent binding of the tardigrade Dsup protein to chromatin promotes yeast survival and longevity upon exposure to oxidative damage.

Rhiannon R Aguilar, Laiba F Khan, Christopher K Cummins, Nina Arslanovic, Thea Grauer, Kaylah Birmingham, Kritika Kasliwal, Spike D L Posnikoff, Ujani Chakraborty, Allison R Hickman, Rachel Watson, Ryan J Ezell, Sabrina R Hunt, Laylo Mukhsinova, Hannah E Willis, Martis W Cowles, Richard Garner, Abraham Shim, J Ignacio Gutierrez, Bryan J Venters, Matthew R Marunde, Brian D Strahl, Michael-Christopher Keogh, Jessica K Tyler

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA. · pubmed

Paper

Abstract

Tardigrades are remarkable in their ability to survive extreme environments. The damage suppressor (Dsup) protein is thought to contribute to their extreme resistance to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by irradiation. Here we show that expression of Ramazzottius varieornatus Dsup in Saccharomyces cerevisiae reduces oxidative DNA damage and extends lifespan in response to chronic oxidative genotoxicity. Dsup uses multiple modes of engagement with the nucleosomal H2A/H2B acidic patch, H3/H4 histone tails and DNA to bind across the yeast genome without bias. Effective chromatin binding and genome protection requires the Dsup HMGN-like motif and C-terminal sequences. These findings give precedent and mechanistic understanding for engineering an organism by physically shielding its genome to promote survival and longevity in the face of oxidative damage.

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Research summary

The paper claims that the Dsup protein from tardigrades can reduce oxidative DNA damage and extend lifespan in yeast. This research is relevant as it explores mechanisms that could potentially mitigate oxidative stress, a significant factor in aging and longevity.

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