BRCA1 regulates the G2/M checkpoint by activating Chk1 kinase upon DNA damage.
The breast cancer tumor-suppressor gene, BRCA1, encodes a protein with a BRCT domain-a motif that is found in many proteins that are implicated in DNA damage response and in genome stability. Phosphorylation of BRCA1 by the DNA damage-response proteins ATM, ATR and hCds1/Chk2 changes in response to DNA damage and ... at replication-block checkpoints. Although cells that lack BRCA1 have an abnormal response to DNA damage, the exact role of BRCA1 in this process has remained unclear. Here we show that BRCA1 is essential for activating the Chk1 kinase that regulates DNA damage-induced G2/M arrest. Thus, BRCA1 controls the expression, phosphorylation and cellular localization of Cdc25C and Cdc2/cyclin B kinase-proteins that are crucial for the G2/M transition. We show that BRCA1 regulates the expression of both Wee1 kinase, an inhibitor of Cdc2/cyclin B kinase, and the 14-3-3 family of proteins that sequesters phosphorylated Cdc25C and Cdc2/cyclin B kinase in the cytoplasm. We conclude that BRCA1 regulates key effectors that control the G2/M checkpoint and is therefore involved in regulating the onset of mitosis.
Mesh Terms:
Blotting, Western, Breast Neoplasms, DNA Damage, Enzyme Activation, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, G2 Phase, Genes, BRCA1, Humans, Mitosis, Precipitin Tests, Protein Kinases, Signal Transduction, Tumor Cells, Cultured
Blotting, Western, Breast Neoplasms, DNA Damage, Enzyme Activation, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, G2 Phase, Genes, BRCA1, Humans, Mitosis, Precipitin Tests, Protein Kinases, Signal Transduction, Tumor Cells, Cultured
Nat. Genet.
Date: Mar. 01, 2002
PubMed ID: 11836499
View in: Pubmed Google Scholar
Download Curated Data For This Publication
1771
Switch View:
- Interactions 5