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Breast Cancer Research
Published in: Breast Cancer Research 1/2001

01-02-2001 | Commentary

Distinct functions of BRCA1 and BRCA2 in double-strand break repair

Authors: Yilun Liu, Stephen C West

Published in: Breast Cancer Research | Issue 1/2001

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Abstract

Individuals carrying BRCA mutations are predisposed to breast cancer. The BRCA1 and BRCA2 proteins are required for homologous recombination and DNA break repair, leading to the suggestion that they act in concert. However, direct evidence of a stable BRCA1/BRCA2 complex has not been demonstrated. Rather, the two proteins have been found as constituents of discrete, but perhaps nonexclusive complexes that are critical for repair. We discuss the interaction of BRCA1 with the BACH1 and BARD1 proteins, and suggest that the pleiotropic nature of mutations in BRCA1 may be associated with defects in protein–protein interactions. In contrast, the role of BRCA2 in DNA repair may be more defined by its direct interaction with the RAD51 recombinase.
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Metadata
Title
Distinct functions of BRCA1 and BRCA2 in double-strand break repair
Authors
Yilun Liu
Stephen C West
Publication date
01-02-2001
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Breast Cancer Research / Issue 1/2001
Electronic ISSN: 1465-542X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/bcr417

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