In search of the tumour-suppressor functions of BRCA1 and BRCA2.
Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndromes can be caused by loss-of-function germline mutations in one of two tumour-suppressor genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2 (ref. 1). Each gene product interacts with recombination/DNA repair proteins in pathways that participate in preserving intact chromosome structure. However, it is unclear to what extent such functions specifically suppress breast and ovarian cancer. Here we analyse what is known of BRCA gene function and highlight some unanswered questions in the field.
Scully
R
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The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Livingston
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DM
D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D024682:BRCA2 Protein; D002843:Chromatin / Q000502:physiology; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D016196:S Phase; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D019313:BRCA1 Protein; D024682:BRCA2 Protein; D002843:Chromatin; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase