BRCA1

BRCA1

Abstract

In this study we try to explore the concept of BRCA1 in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on BRCA1 and its relation with Gene Patenting. The research also analyzes many aspects of BRCA1 and tries to gauge its effect on Gene Patenting.

Table of Contents

Abstract2

Introduction4

Description of the Disease4

Functions and Mechanism of Action5

DNA Repair5

Transcript5

Mutations and Breast Cancer6

Controversy over Gene Patent6

Heredity8

The BRCA Legal Battle8

Implications10

Conclusion10

References13

BRCA1

Introduction

This paper is discussing the disease of Breast Cancer. Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women in the Western world. During the past decade, a number of genes have been associated to an increased risk of breast cancer.

Description of the Disease

BRCA1 (Breast Cancer logo of a breast cancer-1 - early onset) is a gene human belongs to a class of tumor suppressor genes, which maintain the integrity of genomics to prevent the uncontrolled proliferation of cells breast. This gene comprises 22 exons will create through a messenger RNA to a protein consisting of 1863 amino acids. The BRCA1 protein is multifactorial: it is involved in repairing the damage of DNA, the ubiquitination, the transcriptional regulation, as well as other functions. A loss-of-function mutation or deletion of the BRCA1 gene increases the likelihood of tumor formation, particularly for breast cancer (breast cancer), ovarian cancer (ovarian cancer), colorectal cancer (colon cancer) and prostate cancer. The protein encoded by BRCA1 protein consists of 1863 amino acids and has a molar mass of 207 732 daltons . It interacts in the nucleus of many types of normal body cells with the protein RAD51, and of the BRCA2 protein encoded. All three proteins work together to repair breaks in damaged DNA. This disruption may, for example, by ionizing radiations are caused. But also in cell division, these interruptions occur naturally. The functions and interactions of the three DNA-repair proteins are the subject of intensive research and not yet fully elucidated or understood (Alexandre 2004, 90).

Functions and Mechanism of Action

DNA Repair

The BRCA1 protein is directly involved in the repair of damaged DNA. In the nucleus of many types of normal cells, it is believed that the BRCA1 protein interacts with the protein RAD51 in the repair of double strand breaks in DNA, although the details and significance of this interaction is still the subject of debate. The BRCA1 protein binds directly to DNA. This ability to bind to DNA contributes to its ability to inhibit the activity nuclease protein complex Mre11-Rad50-Nbs1 (MRN) or protein Mre11 alone. This property may explain why the BRCA1 allows a more accurate repair of DNA by the system NHEJ. The BRCA1 also ?-H2AX with (a histone H2AX phosphorylated on serine -139) to locate the home repair in the double-stranded DNA, indicating that it may play a role in the recruitment of repair factors.

Transcript

It has been shown that BRCA1 associated with the holoenzyme RNA polymerase II was purified human extracts from cultures HeLa, which would imply that it is a component of the holoenzyme. However, more research later contradicted this hypothesis by ...