BRCA1 is a tumor suppressor and encodes the protein BRCA1, which helps repair damaged DNA and thus helps maintain the stability of the cell's genetic material. If the protein does not function correctly, DNA damage may not be repaired properly and then trigger the development of cancer. Mutations in BRCA1 have been found in a significant percentage of patients with breast and ovarian cancers. According to estimates, 65-75% of women carrying BRCA1 mutations will develop breast cancer in their lifetimes, as compared with 12% in the general population; 35-60% of women with BRCA1 mutations will develop ovarian cancer, as compared with 1.6% in the general population. In addition, certain BRCA1 mutations play key roles in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, and peritoneal cancer. Because of the contribution of BRCA1 mutations to cancer, people are increasingly getting tested for BRCA1 mutations. Breast Cancer (BRCA) Gene Test is usually done for people who have a family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer or who already have one of these diseases. This test helps determine a person's risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer. New study offers detailed structural information of BRCA1. Researchers from The Francis Crick Institute and University of Oxford have solved the three-dimensional architecture of the protein BRCA1, which extends the understanding of the protein's functions. BRCA1 functions in interaction with BRCA1-A, BRCA1-B and BRCA1-C, which are protein complexes. The researchers used multiple methods to learn the detailed structures of these proteins. Their findings were reported in a paper appearing in Cell Reports. "Our data also suggest how ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM)-dependent BRCA1 dimerization may stabilize self-association of the entire BRCA1-A complex," the researchers wrote. If we can better understand how the BRCA1 protein helps repair damaged DNA, we may be able to find novel ways of detecting, treating and preventing cancer in individuals with BRCA1 mutations. Cusabio provides BRCA1 protein and Recombinant NTRK1 protein.
