Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Identifying the Effects of BRCA1 Mutations on Homologous Recombination using Cells that Express Endogenous Wild-type BRCA1
Published on: February 18, 2011
Functions of BRCA1 and BRCA2 in the biological response to DNA damage
1University of Cambridge, CRC Department of Oncology and The Medical Research Council Cancer Cell Unit, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2XZ, UK. arv22@cam.ac.uk
Abstract:
Inheritance of one defective copy of either of the two breast-cancer-susceptibility genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, predisposes individuals to breast, ovarian and other cancers. Both genes encode very large protein products; these bear little resemblance to one another or to other known proteins, and their precise biological functions remain uncertain. Recent studies reveal that the BRCA proteins are required for maintenance of chromosomal stability in mammalian cells and function in the biological response to DNA damage. The new work suggests that, although the phenotypic consequences of their disruption are similar, BRCA1 and BRCA2 play distinct roles in the mechanisms that lead to the repair of DNA double-strand breaks.
More Related Videos
08:31Characterizing DNA Repair Processes at Transient and Long-lasting Double-strand DNA Breaks by Immunofluorescence Microscopy
Published on: June 8, 2018
06:44Assessment of Global DNA Double-Strand End Resection using BrdU-DNA Labeling coupled with Cell Cycle Discrimination Imaging
Published on: April 28, 2021
Related Concept Videos
Nucleotide Excision Repair
Fixing Double-strand Breaks
DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle
Nucleotide Excision Repair
Cells are regularly exposed to mutagens—factors in the environment that can damage DNA and generate mutations. UV radiation is one of the most common mutagens and is estimated to introduce a significant number of changes in DNA. These include bends or kinks in the structure, which can block DNA replication or transcription. If these errors are not fixed, the damage can cause mutations, which in turn can result in cancer or disease depending on which sequences are...
Fixing Double-strand Breaks
DNA Damage Can Stall the Cell Cycle