Radiation destroys proteins, not DNA
It was considered till now, that danger of the radiation consists in damaging of DNA. The group of scientists under the direction of professor Michael Deylees from US Army Medical University asserts that viability of the cells, undergone irradiation, in the greater degree depends on a degree of proteins destruction.
In steady to the radiation cells proteins continue to function effectively after an irradiation while they are protected by the special chemical mechanism with participation of bivalent manganese ions.
Analyzing the obtained data, scientists came to a conclusion, that introduction of the cleared radio-protective complexes on the manganese basis in sensitive cells can temporarily increase their stability to radiation.
Basing of this principle new methods of radiation protection can be elaborated. These methods can be applied, for example, to radiotherapy of tumors or for protection of cosmonauts against space radiation.