← all shorts

Concept

Dsup

The image depicts a stylized representation of a virus-like structure with the text "Dsup" overlaid, set against a dark background with a smoky effect.

Damage suppressor protein, identified in 2016 in the tardigrade species Ramazzottius varieornatus. Dsup binds physically to chromatin and shields DNA from the hydroxyl radicals produced by ionising radiation. When the gene is inserted into cultured human cells, those cells suffer roughly 40 per cent less X-ray damage. The protein appears to have no obvious homologue outside one tardigrade lineage.

Mentioned in 1 article