Canada Saves DNA!
Well, not really but this is a bit of good news
Good news can come from anywhere.
That, in and of itself, is good news.
Today we look to Saskatoon, Canada, where on one remarkable day in 2019 the temperature reached (fell to?) a staggering minus 42.6 degrees Celsius (minus 44.68 degrees Fahrenheit.)
In addition to the cold weather, it also has some fun architecture:
Anyway, researchers from Western University in this Saskatchewan city have made a groundbreaking discovery that could revolutionize our understanding of DNA repair and its potential applications. DNA damage is a constant threat to cellular health, caused by factors ranging from normal metabolic processes to environmental factors like radiation. The accumulation of unrepaired DNA damage can lead to a variety of serious consequences, including cancer and genetic disorders. But don’t worry! Researchers from Western University have identified a protein, DdrC, that has the remarkable ability to stop DNA damage in its tracks.
They have identified a protein, DdrC, that has the remarkable ability to stop DNA damage in its tracks. DNA damage is a constant threat to cellular health, caused by factors ranging from normal metabolic processes to environmental factors like radiation. The accumulation of unrepaired DNA damage can lead to a variety of serious consequences, including cancer, genetic disorders, and premature aging. In addition to these well-known effects, DNA damage can also contribute to neurological disorders and impaired immune function.
DdrC (DNA damage Repair Protein C) was found in the bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans, a microorganism renowned for its extraordinary resilience to radiation and other DNA-damaging conditions. This bacterium is renowned for its ability to withstand radiation levels thousands of times higher than what would kill a human cell. It does this via its efficient DNA repair mechanisms.
Robert Szabla, the lead researcher, made my day by comparing DdrC to a football player who plays every game without protective gear and yet miraculously recovers from severe injuries:
"It's as if he had a concussion and multiple broken bones every single game, but then makes a full recovery overnight…"
Deinococcus radiodurans can repair hundreds of broken DNA fragments into a coherent genome. The protein scans the DNA for breaks and, when it detects one, it neutralizes the damage and preventing further harm, then it alerts the relevant cell to the need for repair.
Szabla and his team used advanced X-ray technology at the Canadian Light Source to determine the 3D structure of DdrC:
They discovered that DdrC works independently, without the need for other proteins, making it a promising candidate for integration into other organisms.
In lab experiments the DdrC gene has been injected into plants and animals, but the potential extends beyond that. There are significant implications for agriculture (crops more resistant to environmental stresses) and humans (possibly accelerating development of cancer treatments.)
In biotechnology, we could be talking about custom organisms with enhanced repair capabilities, which could have applications in fields such as cleaning up after biological disasters or improving adverse environmental problems from industrial production.
This speaks to the excitement the Western University team feels for the full potential of DdrC.
Their research offers hope for a future where we can harness the power of nature to combat diseases and protect our planet.