A team of scientists has discovered a protein that can directly repair DNA damage. Better yet, a new study shows that the protein appears to bePlug and play“- Theoretically capable of inserting itself into any living organism, making it a promising candidate for a cancer vaccine.
In a new study, a team of scientists found a protein called DNA damage response protein C (ddrc), which seems to be very Effective in detecting damage in DNA, putting a stop to this damage and alerting the cell to begin the repair process.
The discovery was presented in a condition Recently published nucleic acid research.
According to Science AlertThe best feature of DdrC, which was found in a small resistant bacterium called Deinococcus radioduranQIt may be so. Completely independentand does its work without the help of other proteins.
When the study authors The ddrC gene is turned on. For unavoidable and annoying bacteria Escherichia coliI found that it should be relatively easy to transfer to him. Almost all other living thingsallowing for improvement. DNA repair.
To our great surprise, the gene Makes bacteria 40 times more resistant “UV damage,” says the biochemist. Robert Zaplaa researcher at Western University in Canada, and the first author of the new article.
“This seems to be a rare example where you have a protein that actually is Independent machine“The researcher adds,” he says.
the Deinococcus radiodurans also known as “Conan the bacteria“It is a rare example of resistance and survival.
In 2020, scientists discovered that bacteria had survived outside the International Space Station and concluded that they could have survived in a dormant state for 280 million years beneath the surface of Mars.
DdrC was shown to play a major role in this resistance.
“In a human cell, if there are more than a billion base pairs of breaks in the entire genome, The cell cannot repair itself. “And he dies,” Szabla says in statement From the Canadian Light Source, which hosts the Canadian particle accelerator at the University of Saskatchewan.
But in the case of DdrC, This unique protein helps repair cells. “Hundreds of broken DNA fragments form a coherent genome,” the researcher adds.
The researchers used the powerful synchrotron X-ray beam of the Canadian Light Source. Investigation of the 3D shape of DdrC And find out how it works its magic.
Researchers have discovered that Protein moves through DNA.looking for lesions in one or both chains. When you find a single or double break, Contact her and find another break. Of the same kind.
When you locate single strand breaksDdrC binds to both and paralyzes them. DNA fragment compressionDo something similar with pairs of double-stranded chains, twisting the two loose ends together to form a loop – as if you were tying a loop on a shoelace.
These reforms Not only does it prevent damage from getting worse.as well as sending a Reference to DNA repair mechanisms From the cell so they can come and fix the breaks.
(d) Tetiana Milojevic / University of Vienna
Deinococcus radiodurans bacteria after a year in space
Among the many benefits of improving DNA repair, adapting this mechanism could be: Grace for Genetic EngineeringWhich helps us develop cancer vaccines and climate-resilient crops.
Plus, there may be more new tools that this came from. “DdrC is just one of hundreds of useful proteins in these bacteria,” says Zapla.
“The next step is to investigate further, and find out what else this cell is used for. Repair your genome – Because we will surely find many tools that we have no idea how they work or how useful they are until we look at them.
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