title: Unraveling the mechanism of BRCA2 in homologous recombination.
abstract: BRCA2 is the product of a breast cancer susceptibility gene in humans and the founding member of an emerging family of proteins present throughout the eukaryotic domain that serve in homologous recombination. The function of BRCA2 in recombination is to control RAD51, a protein that catalyzes homologous pairing and DNA strand exchange. By physically interacting with both RAD51 and single-stranded DNA, BRCA2 mediates delivery of RAD51 preferentially to sites of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) exposed as a result of DNA damage or replication problems. Through its action, BRCA2 helps restore and maintain integrity of the genome. This review highlights recent studies on BRCA2 and its orthologs that have begun to illuminate the molecular mechanisms by which these proteins control homologous recombination.
authors: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA. wkhollo@med.cornell.edu
authors: William K
authors: WK
authors: Holloman
mesh_terms: D024682:BRCA2 Protein / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001665:Binding Sites; D004249:DNA Damage; D004260:DNA Repair; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000737:chemistry; D008957:Models, Genetic; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D051135:Rad51 Recombinase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D011995:Recombination, Genetic
chemical_list: D024682:BRCA2 Protein; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D051135:Rad51 Recombinase