Pleiotropic roles of late embryogenesis abundant proteins of Deinococcus radiodurans against oxidation and desiccation

Deinococcus radiodurans, an important extremophile, possesses extraordinary stress tolerance ability against lethal and mutagenic effects of DNA-damaging agents, such as γ-rays, ultraviolet, oxidation, and desiccation. How global regulators of this bacterium function in response to oxidation and desiccation has been an intense topic as elucidating such mechanisms may help to facilitate some beneficial applications in agriculture or medicine. Particularly, a variety of functional proteins have been characterized for D. radiodurans' behaviors under abiotic stresses. Interestingly, a group of Late Embryogenesis Abundant proteins (LEAs) in D. radiodurans have been characterized both biochemically and physiologically, which are shown indispensable for stabilizing crucial metabolic enzymes in a chaperone-like manner and thereby maintaining the metal ion homeostasis under oxidation and desiccation. The rapid progress in understanding deinococcal LEA proteins has substantially extended their functions in both plants and animals. Herein, we discuss the latest studies of radiodurans LEA proteins ranging from the classification to structures to functions. Importantly, the harnessing of these proteins may have unlimited potential for biotechnology, engineering and disease treatments.