Mapping the functional domains of BRCA1. Interaction of the ring finger domains of BRCA1 and BARD1.
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Breast cancer 1 (BRCA1) and BRCA1-associated RING domain 1 (BARD1) are multidomain proteins that interact in vivo via their N-terminal RING finger motif regions. To characterize functional aspects of the BRCA1/BARD1 interaction, we have defined the structural domains required for the interaction, as well as their oligomerization state, relative stability, and possible nucleic acid binding activity. We have found that the RING finger motifs do not themselves constitute stable structural domains but are instead part of larger domains comprising residues 1-109 of BRCA1 and residues 26-119 of BARD1. These domains exist as homodimers and preferentially form a stable heterodimer. Shorter BRCA1 RING finger constructs do not interact with BARD1 or with longer BRCA1 constructs, indicating that the heterodimeric and homodimer interactions are mediated by regions outside the canonical RING finger motif. Nucleic acid binding is a generally proposed function of RING finger domains. We show that neither the homodimers nor the heterodimer displays affinity for nucleic acids, indicating that the proposed roles of BRCA1 and BARD1 in DNA repair and/or transcriptional activation must be mediated either by other regions of the proteins or by additional cofactors. (+info)
Chromatin remodeling and activation of chromosomal DNA replication by an acidic transcriptional activation domain from BRCA1.
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An increasing number of transcription factors have been shown to activate DNA replication. However, the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. Here it is shown that when tethered to a cellular replication origin, the acidic transcriptional activation domain of the breast cancer protein BRCA1 alters the local chromatin structure and stimulates chromosomal DNA replication. Cancer-predisposing mutations in BRCA1 that abolish transcriptional activation also prevent chromatin remodeling and activation of replication. Chromatin remodeling occurs even in the absence of a functional replication origin. Thus, increasing chromatin accessibility may be an important mechanism used by transcription factors to facilitate multiple nuclear processes. (+info)
Should insurance pay for preventive services suggested by genetics?
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Physicians, plans and patients are discovering that the promise of genetic testing will be hard to fulfill. Even when a test can show predisposition toward a disease, performing it can't necessarily improve medical outcomes. Unfortunately, doing these tests can have some unintended negative effects. (+info)
BRCA1 and BRCA2 proteins: roles in health and disease.
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Between 5% and 10% of all breast cancer is hereditary, with patients having a strong family history of the disease. The remaining 90-95% of cases are classed as sporadic. Within the inherited group, 80-90% of cases are the result of germline mutations affecting two recently identified genes: BRCA1 and BRCA2. Since the sequencing of these genes, considerable research on the genetics of the mutation carriers has been performed, with less attention having been focused on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 proteins themselves. The structure and function of the protein products thus continues to hold mystery and might be the key to the full understanding of this complex disease. (+info)
Binding of CtIP to the BRCT repeats of BRCA1 involved in the transcription regulation of p21 is disrupted upon DNA damage.
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Mutations in BRCA1 are responsible for nearly all of the hereditary ovarian and breast cancers, and about half of those in breast cancer-only kindreds. The ability of BRCA1 to transactivate the p21 promoter can be inactivated by mutation of the conserved BRCA1 C-terminal (BRCT) repeats. To explore the mechanisms of this BRCA1 function, the BRCT repeats were used as bait in a yeast two-hybrid screen. A known protein, CtIP, a co-repressor with CtBP, was found. CtIP interacts specifically with the BRCT repeats of BRCA1, both in vitro and in vivo, and tumor-derived mutations in this region abolished these interactions. The association of BRCA1 with CtIP was also abrogated in cells treated with DNA-damaging agents including UV, gamma-irradiation, and adriamycin, a response correlated with BRCA1 phosphorylation. The transactivation of the p21 promoter by BRCA1 was diminished by expression of exogenous CtIP and CtBP. These results suggest that the binding of the BRCT repeats of BRCA1 to CtIP/CtBP is critical in mediating transcriptional regulation of p21 in response to DNA damage. (+info)
Germline BRCA1 alterations in a population-based series of ovarian cancer cases.
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The objective of this study was to provide more accurate frequency estimates of breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 ( BRCA1 ) germline alterations in the ovarian cancer population. To achieve this, we determined the prevalence of BRCA1 alterations in a population-based series of consecutive ovarian cancer cases. This is the first population-based ovarian cancer study reporting BRCA1 alterations derived from a comprehensive screen of the entire coding region. One hundred and seven ovarian cancer cases were analyzed for BRCA1 alterations using the RNase mismatch cleavage assay followed by direct sequencing. Two truncating mutations, 962del4 and 3600del11, were identified. Both patients had a family history of breast or ovarian cancer. Several novel as well as previously reported uncharacterized variants were also identified, some of which were associated with a family history of cancer. The frequency distribution of common polymorphisms was determined in the 91 Caucasian cancer cases in this series and 24 sister controls using allele-specific amplification. The rare form of the Q356R polymorphism was significantly ( P = 0.03) associated with a family history of ovarian cancer, suggesting that this polymorphism may influence ovarian cancer risk. In summary, our data suggest a role for some uncharacterized variants and rare forms of polymorphisms in determining ovarian cancer risk, and highlight the necessity to screen for missense alterations as well as truncating mutations in this population. (+info)
Centrosome amplification and a defective G2-M cell cycle checkpoint induce genetic instability in BRCA1 exon 11 isoform-deficient cells.
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Germline mutations of the Brca1 tumor suppressor gene predispose women to breast and ovarian cancers. To study mechanisms underlying BRCA1-related tumorigenesis, we derived mouse embryonic fibroblast cells carrying a targeted deletion of exon 11 of the Brca1 gene. We show that the mutant cells maintain an intact G1-S cell cycle checkpoint and proliferate poorly. However, a defective G2-M checkpoint in these cells is accompanied by extensive chromosomal abnormalities. Mutant fibroblasts contain multiple, functional centrosomes, which lead to unequal chromosome segregation, abnormal nuclear division, and aneuploidy. These data uncover an essential role of BRCA1 in maintaining genetic stability through the regulation of centrosome duplication and the G2-M checkpoint and provide a molecular basis for the role of BRCA1 in tumorigenesis. (+info)
Methylation of the BRCA1 promoter region in sporadic breast and ovarian cancer: correlation with disease characteristics.
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Reduced expression of BRCA1 has been reported in sporadic breast cancer, although the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain unclear. Abnormal methylation leading to silencing of tumour suppressor genes has been implicated in tumorigenesis in a wide range of sporadic cancers. Therefore, we sought to determine the frequency of methylation within the BRCA1 promoter region in a large group of sporadic invasive breast (n =96) and ovarian (n = 43) carcinomas using Southern analyses. Overall, methylation was detected in 11% of breast cancer cases and in 5% of ovarian tumours. Methylation of the BRCA1 promoter region was strongly correlated with lack of estrogen and progesterone receptor expression. It is clear from the frequency of abnormal methylation of the BRCA1 promoter region, that this cannot be the sole mechanism mediating the reduced expression of BRCA1 that has previously been reported to occur in the majority of invasive sporadic breast tumours. Nevertheless this study suggests that abnormal methylation of the BRCA1 promoter may be important in tumorigenesis in a subset of sporadic breast and ovarian cancers. (+info)