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Discovery of a novel DNA repair-related gene and its application to biotech industryThe Japan Atomic Energy Agency (President Yuichi Tonozuka) (herein after referred to as JAEA) has advanced functional analysis of a novel DNA repair-related gene from the radioresistant bacterium, actively engaged in providing samples and giving technical guidance to domestic manufacturers, and succeeded in promoting practical application of the gene product as a biotech reagent. This is a research achievement of Issay Narumi, Gene Resource Research Group Leader, Quantum Beam Science Directorate, and his colleagues. Bacterium that exhibits the most resistance to ionizing radiation among all the living organisms is called Deinococcus radiodurans. Although the genome sequence project of D. radiodurans was completed in 1999, almost half the genes were functionally unknown, and therefore the mechanism underlying its radioresistance remained unclear. JAEA investigated D. radiodurans using gamma rays and ion beams from the quantum beam facilities such as TIARA (Takasaki Ion accelerators for Advanced Radiation Application) at Takasaki Advanced Radiation Research Institute, and discovered a gene that plays a vital role in DNA repair in 2001. Protein derived from the gene was found to bind to damaged DNA, and thereby involved in efficient DNA repair capacity of D. radiodurans. Thus, the function of the protein was different from that of hitherto known proteins.
JAEA actively engaged in providing samples and giving technical
guidance concerning the protein to domestic manufacturers through
the technology transfer support program of Japan Science and Technology
Agency. As a result of this effort, Nippon Gene Co., Ltd. released
a new DNA repair reagent kit with 10-fold increase in efficiency
compared to conventional products. Broad-ranging utilization of
the DNA repair kit as a biotech reagent essential for genetic
engineering is expected. [Accompanying materials] |
