Role of chromosome segregation genes in BRCA1-dependent lethality

Abstract

Mutations in BRCA1 tumor suppressor account for ∼45% of hereditary breast cancer and predispose individuals to ovarian and prostate tumorigenesis. BRCA1-deficient cells contain numerous chromosome aberrations (duplications, translocations, inter-sister gaps) and defects in gene regulation. While BRCA1 binds numerous factors to engage in a wide variety of activities (ubiquitin ligase, DNA repair/damage signaling, chromatin remodeling, transcription activation), how BRCA1 mutations affect genetic instability at the molecular level remains unclear.1,2 ©2008 Landes Bioscience.