Unraveling the mechanism of BRCA2 in homologous recombination.

TitleUnraveling the mechanism of BRCA2 in homologous recombination.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2011
AuthorsHolloman WK
JournalNat Struct Mol Biol
Volume18
Issue7
Pagination748-54
Date Published2011 Jul
ISSN1545-9985
KeywordsBinding Sites, BRCA2 Protein, DNA Damage, DNA Repair, DNA, Single-Stranded, Models, Genetic, Protein Structure, Tertiary, Rad51 Recombinase, Recombination, Genetic
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.

DOI10.1038/nsmb.2096
Alternate JournalNat. Struct. Mol. Biol.
PubMed ID21731065
PubMed Central IDPMC3647347
Grant ListGM042482 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
GM079859 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
R01 GM042482 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
R01 GM079859 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States

Weill Cornell Medicine Microbiology and Immunology 1300 York Avenue, Box 62 New York, NY 10065 Phone: (212) 746-6505 Fax: (212) 746-8587