BOZEMAN, Mont. - Montana Biotech Corporation of Belgrade, Montana, has just signed a Technology Cooperation Agreement with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, for research on radiation-shielding compounds. This research may lead to a breakthrough in methods for protecting astronauts and sensitive electronic equipment from the harmful effects of radiation in space. The MSU TechLink Center in Bozeman, Montana, helped to broker the agreement.

Montana Biotech specializes in developing commercial products from microorganisms living in extreme environments, such as boiling, acidic, or radioactive water. Company researchers find and analyze these extremophilic organisms, isolate their unique compounds, and develop commercial products from these compounds. Examples of products include environmentally friendly adhesives, antioxidants and antifungals for the biomedical market, and environmental remediation agents.

The project with NASA JPL is an outgrowth of a recently completed project with NASA's Johnson Space Center. That project focused on improving methodologies for recognizing and analyzing microorganisms in rock samples acquired during NASA space missions. It included evaluating safeguards to protect against contamination from microorganisms brought back from NASA's upcoming Mars mission. During that research, Montana Biotech discovered that some of the bacteria in its permanent collection are extremely resistant to gamma radiation. Follow-up research resulted in the discovery of a novel compound that can shield other organisms, fiber optics, and microcircuits from radiation's harmful effects. Dr. David Singel, an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Montana State University, assisted Montana Biotech in testing the compound's radiation-protection effects. Montana Biotech has applied for a provisional patent on this discovery.

In the new project, Montana Biotech and NASA JPL researchers will measure the novel compound's ability to shield gamma radiation, the relative effectiveness of different formulations of the compound, and its ability to shield other types of radiation, including x-rays and proton and electron radiation. The implications of this research extend into the areas of satellite communications, bioremediation, and nuclear medicine.

This agreement is the third joint research project established by the MSU TechLink Center between Montana companies and NASA JPL during the last year. TechLink is funded by NASA to link companies in its region with NASA centers for development, transfer, and commercialization of new technologies. The goal is both to contribute to NASA's space mission and lead to new commercial products that stimulate the region's economy.

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