Ectoine protects DNA from damage by ionizing radiation

Abstract

Ectoine plays an important role in protecting biomolecules and entire cells against environmental stressors such as salinity, freezing, drying and high temperatures. Recent studies revealed that ectoine also provides effective protection for human skin cells from damage caused by UV-A radiation. These protective properties make ectoine a valuable compound and it is applied as an active ingredient in numerous pharmaceutical devices and cosmetics. Interestingly, the underlying mechanism resulting in protecting cells from radiation is not yet fully understood. Here we present a study on ectoine and its protective influence on DNA during electron irradiation. Applying gel electrophoresis and atomic force microscopy, we demonstrate for the first time that ectoine prevents DNA strand breaks caused by ionizing electron radiation. The results presented here point to future applications of ectoine for instance in cancer radiation therapy.

Role of the Extremolytes Ectoine and Hydroxyectoine as Stress Protectants and Nutrients: Genetics, Phylogenomics, Biochemistry, and Structural Analysis

“…While ectoine lowers the melting temperature, 5-hydroxyectoine increases it [ 114 ]. Furthermore, ectoine protects DNA against the induction of single-strand breaks by ionizing radiation and serves as a scavenger for hydroxyl radicals [ 138 , 139 , 140 ]. Ectoine is also a potent protectant against UV-induced cellular stress [ 141 , 142 ].…”

“…A number of commercial applications for ectoines have been developed that rely, in their core, on the ability of ectoine and 5-hydroxyectoine to serve as water-attracting and water-structure-forming compounds [ 109 , 110 , 111 ], to stabilize macromolecules and entire cells through their chaperon and glass-forming effects [ 66 , 67 , 86 , 91 , 94 , 105 , 132 , 145 ], to protect DNA from ionizing radiation [ 138 , 140 ], and to prevent UV-induced cell damage of skin cells [ 141 , 142 , 145 ]. These latter two properties and the moisturizing effects of ectoines have fostered the development of a wide range of products for skin care and cosmetics [ 145 ].…”

Raman Spectroscopic Signature of Ectoine Conformations in Bulk Solution and Crystalline State

“…[3,4,5] In addition to this remarkable water binding behaviour and the resulting hygroscopicity, [2] it was assumed that the properties of the first hydration shell around ectoine are responsible for further effects, ranging from the stabilization of proteins [6,7,8,9,10,1] to the protection of DNA from ultraviolet [11] and ionizing radiation damage. [12,13] In contrast to its stabilizing effects, previous studies also reported a destabilizing impact of ectoine on charged macromolecules with regard to direct and local interactions [14,15,16,17,18,19,11] in addition to radical scavenging properties. [12,20,11] Besides the aforementioned effects in bulk solution, recent single-crystal and powder X-ray, as well as single crystal neutron diffraction measurements also revealed conformational changes of crystalline ectoine upon dehydration.…”

Contribution of mechanosensitive channels to osmoadaptation and ectoine excretion in Halomonas elongata

“…It also protects lung epithelia against nanoparticle-induced inflammation (Sydlik et al 2009), and damage to the small bowel from ischaemia and reperfusion injury (Wei et al 2009). Recently, it was shown that ectoine is a potent protector of DNA against ionizing radiation (Schröter et al 2017). Its protective properties make ectoine a valuable compound and ectoine is marketed in health care and skin care products worldwide (Kunte et al 2014;Lentzen and Schwarz 2006).…”