The BRCA1 E3 ubiquitin ligase controls centrosome dynamics.
The breast cancer specific tumor suppressor protein 1, BRCA1, mediates functions for all cells to grow. The puzzle of BRCA1 is that its loss is only associated with tumors in breast and ovarian epithelial cells. In this focused review, we highlight the data linking BRCA1 to the centrosome function, and we suggest that the specificity for breast tumors is due to a loss in restraint on centrosome function. Amplification of centrosome numbers secondary to loss of BRCA1 can drive the cell into the aneuploid state, thus, by this perspective loss of BRCA1 is a mutator phenotype.
Parvin
Jeffrey D
JD
Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. JParvin@rics.bwh.harvard.edu
Sankaran
Satish
S
D000818:Animals; D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology; D018385:Centrosome / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008938:Mitosis; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
D019313:BRCA1 Protein; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases