Proteomic analysis of Deinococcus radiodurans after exposure to radiation

As humans venture into the cosmos there will be many challenges, including exposure to radiation. Deinococcus radiodurans is an extremophile that is highly resistant to radiation, due to DNA repair proteins that are expressed when the bacterium is exposed. In order to determine the up and down regulation of proteins, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis will be used. This method is capable of resolving 5,000 individual proteins on a single gel (O’Farrell, 2010). This study will identify proteins involved in the DNA repair protein networks of D. radiodurans after exposure to different radiation sources. This information can inform future products that can allow for long distance space exploration.