Using a tardigrade protein to reduce radiation damage during cancer treatment

January 7, 2026

The tiny animals known as tardigrades (or "water bears") are resistant to various stresses, including radiation. A specific protein has been identified that confers that radiation resistance. It is called Dsup, for damage-suppressor. It binds tightly to DNA, somehow leading to reduced DNA damage during radiation. It seems to be unique to tardigrades.

Previous work showed that human cells engineered to produce that Dsup protein were indeed radiation resistant. That is, the tardigrade protein that reduces radiation damage can function in human cells. No ill effects were seen.

A recent article takes another step toward making real-world use of that tardigrade protein.

The idea is to use the Dsup protein to reduce damage to nearby (healthy) areas when a cancer is being treated with radiation. To do this, the scientists have developed a way to deliver the messenger RNA (mRNA) for Dsup protein to cells in those nearby areas. It is something like an mRNA vaccine, delivered directly to the target area. The mRNA functions, providing radiation resistance to those areas -- without affecting the radiation treatment itself.

Tests in a model system of mouse cancer, reported in the current article, are very encouraging in showing reduced damage from the radiation treatment. Development of this system will continue, with the goal of using it safely in humans during radiation treatment of cancer.

* News story: A protein from tiny tardigrades may help cancer patients tolerate radiation therapy -- When scientists stimulated cells to produce a protein that helps "water bears" survive extreme environments, the tissue showed much less DNA damage after radiation treatment. (Anne Trafton, MIT News, February 26, 2025.)
* The article: Radioprotection of healthy tissue via nanoparticle-delivered mRNA encoding for a damage-suppressor protein found in tardigrades. (Ameya R Kirtane et al, Nature Biomedical Engineering 9:1240, August 2025.)

A recent post on another type of tardigrade resistance: Tardigrade resistance to stress -- how do they do it? (March 27, 2024). Links to more.