Part 2: Protein Power

The second aspect of Deinococcus Radiodurans's healing is its special proteins. It is

believed that there are 24 genes that contribute to Deinococcus Radiodurans's healing

abilities, and only 12 of these are fully understood by mankind. Some of these genes control the

creation of a special protein that has a special function in Deinococcus Radiodurans

cells called RecA. In normal cells, RecA's only function is to allow genetic variation to occur

by allowing double and single DNA strands to combine by catalyzing certain reactions. RecA

has the special ability in Deinococcus Radiodurans of being able to repair broken DNA strands.

Deinococcus Radiodurans creates and coats its proteins with large amounts of Manganese, a

chemical that eliminates other harmful chemicals that could damage the proteins. The RecA

are able to use the spare DNA contained in the bacterium as an example from which they

they are able to splice together the broken DNA strands. Also, Deinococcus Radiodurans

has a special type of SSB protein. Normal SSB proteins bond DNA using a specialized area on its

surface. The SSB proteins in Deinococcus Radiodurans have two specialized bonding areas, so the

SSB proteins in Deinococcus Radiodurans bacteria are able to bond DNA twice as quickly and

efficiently as normal bacteria.

 Shown above: Deinococcus Radiodurans shown growing in an

environment of 60gy (a measurement of radiation). It takes 10gy to

kill a grown man.