BRCA1 protein level is not affected by peptide growth factors in MCF10A cell line

The breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA1) has been identified as a putative tumor suppressor on chromosome 17. We raised antibody against Ring-finger domain of BRCA1. The antibody recognizes a specific BRCA1 protein doublet of about 220 kD. The majority of BRCA1 protein is localized to the nuclear fraction of untreated MCF10A cells. Though BRCA1 is thought to be a growth suppressor gene, no change in BRCA1 protein level was found when MCF10A cells were arrested by growth factor deprivation or stimulation of cell proliferation by re-addition of growth factors. Furthermore the subcellular localization of the BRCA1 protein does not change throughout the cell cycle. These results suggest that BRCA1 may not be directly involved in the regulation of the cell cycle of breast cancer cell line.