Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Silencing of BRCA2 to Identify Novel BRCA2-regulated Biological Functions in Cultured Human Cells
09:24

Silencing of BRCA2 to Identify Novel BRCA2-regulated Biological Functions in Cultured Human Cells

Published on: August 12, 2015

Down-regulation of UCRP and UBE2L6 in BRCA2 knocked-down human breast cells

Manish K Tripathi1, Gautam Chaudhuri

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN 37208, USA.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|January 27, 2005
PubMed

Insights

BRCA2 gene knockdown in human breast cells reduced ubiquitin cross-reacting protein (UCRP) and UBE2L6 expression. This suggests BRCA2 may influence cell growth and innate immunity pathways.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • BRCA2 is crucial for DNA repair and maintaining genomic stability.
  • Its role in regulating gene expression beyond DNA repair is less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of BRCA2 gene ablation on mRNA expression in human breast cells.
  • To identify specific genes affected by BRCA2 knockdown.

Main Methods:

  • Transient knockdown of BRCA2 mRNA in HMEC and other human breast cell lines.
  • Microarray analysis to profile mRNA expression changes.
  • Quantitative-PCR and Northern blot analysis for validation.

Main Results:

  • BRCA2 knockdown led to the down-regulation of ubiquitin cross-reacting protein (UCRP) mRNA.
  • The expression of UBE2L6 (UbcH8), an E2 enzyme involved in UCRP conjugation, was also reduced.
  • UCRP, an interferon-regulated protein, plays roles in cell growth and cell cycle regulation.

Conclusions:

  • BRCA2 gene expression influences the regulation of UCRP and UBE2L6.
  • These findings suggest potential novel roles for BRCA2 in cell cycle control and innate immunity.
  • Further research into UCRPylation pathways may reveal new functions of BRCA2.

More Related Videos

Identifying the Effects of BRCA1 Mutations on Homologous Recombination using Cells that Express Endogenous Wild-type BRCA108:53

Identifying the Effects of BRCA1 Mutations on Homologous Recombination using Cells that Express Endogenous Wild-type BRCA1

Published on: February 17, 2011

Assessment of Global DNA Double-Strand End Resection using BrdU-DNA Labeling coupled with Cell Cycle Discrimination Imaging06:44

Assessment 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

Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...
The Nucleolus02:55

The Nucleolus

The nucleolus is the most prominent substructure of the nucleus. When it was first discovered, it was considered to be an isolated organelle that forms fibrils and granules. In 1931, the relationship between the nucleolus and chromosomes was first described by Heitz. He observed that the appearance and size of nucleolus varies depending on the stage of the cell cycle. He also noticed constricted regions on different chromosomes clustered together at definite cell cycle stages. These regions,...
Receptor Downregulation in MVBs01:15

Receptor Downregulation in MVBs

Multivesicular bodies (MVBs) are mature endosomes that sort ubiquitinated proteins and then fuse with lysosomes to degrade the sorted proteins. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) form a complex that can be internalized through endocytosis, sorted into an MVB, and later degraded.
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that  lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR  stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive  EGFR activation may...
Negative Regulator Molecules01:23

Negative Regulator Molecules

Positive regulators allow a cell to advance through cell cycle checkpoints. Negative regulators have an equally important role as they terminate a cell’s progression through the cell cycle—or pause it—until the cell meets specific criteria.
The Retinoblastoma Gene01:20

The Retinoblastoma Gene

Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...