Antioxidant Activities of an Exopolysaccharide (DeinoPol) Produced by the Extreme Radiation-Resistant Bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans
Shun Mei Lin, Chan Yu Baek, Jong‐Hyun Jung, Woo Sik Kim, Ha-Yeon Song, Ji Hee Lee, Hyun Jung Ji, Yong Zhi, Bo Sun Kang, Yong‐Sun Bahn, Ho Seong Seo, Sangyong Lim
Abstract
Deinococcus radiodurans shows extreme resistance to a range of remarkable environmental stresses. Deinococcal exopolysaccharide (DeinoPol) is a component of the cell wall, but its role in stress resistance has not yet been well-described. In this study, we isolated and characterized DeinoPol from Deinococcus radiodurans R1 strain and investigated its application as an antioxidant agent. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that dra0033, encoding an ExoP-like protein, was involved in DeinoPol biosynthesis, and dra0033 mutation significantly decreased survival rates in response to stresses. Purified DeinoPol consists of different monosaccharides and has a molecular weight of approximately 80 to 100 kDa. DeinoPol also demonstrates highly protective effects on human keratinocytes in response to stress-induced apoptosis by effectively scavenging ROS. Taken together, these findings indicate that DeinoPol is the first reported deinococcal exopolysaccharide that might be used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals as a safe and attractive radical scavenger.