Scientists Discover a Protein That Can Directly Prevent DNA Damage.
A type of Damage Response Protein (DdrC) found in Deinococcus radiodurans is opening up potential for cancer vaccines. This protein can detect DNA damage, prevent it, and signal cells to start the repair process.
Notably, DdrC operates quite independently, without the need for assistance from other proteins. Theoretically, this type of protein could attach to any organism, making it a promising candidate for cancer vaccines.
In one experiment, researchers introduced the DdrC gene into E. coli bacteria. They observed that the DNA repair capability was relatively easy and prevented further severe damage.
A DNA repair protein could open up potential for cancer vaccines (Photo: Science Alert).
“What surprised us was that it actually helped E. coli bacteria withstand the harmful effects of UV radiation by over 40 times,” said biochemist Robert Szabla, a co-author of the study.
“This seems to be a rare example where you have a protein that actually acts like an independent machine.”
In the human body, if there are more than 2 breakpoints in 1 billion base pairs of the genome, the cells cannot recover and will die. However, DdrC can help cells repair hundreds of damaged DNA segments into a cohesive genome.
The way this protein works is similar to tying a shoelace. When it identifies two single-strand break points, DdrC will bind and stabilize both, thereby tightly compressing the DNA segment. With double-strand break points, the protein loops the two ends of the DNA together to form a seamless circle.
These measures not only prevent damage from worsening but also signal to the cell’s DNA repair mechanisms to come in and patch up the breaks.
It is known that uncontrolled DNA damage can lead to various diseases. For instance, UV rays can damage DNA in skin cells, increasing the risk of skin cancer. Preventing or reversing that damage could save lives.
“The ability to rearrange, edit, and manipulate DNA in specific ways is the ultimate goal in biotechnology,” Szabla shared. “This could lay the foundation for a potential cancer vaccine.”