Open AccessFunctional communication between endogenous BRCA1 and its partner, BARD1, during Xenopus laevis development
Author(s) -
Vladimir Joukov,
Junjie Chen,
Edward A. Fox,
Jeremy Green,
David M. Livingston
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.211427098
Subject(s) - xenopus , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , loss function , phenotype , genetics , function (biology) , gene
The breast and ovarian susceptibility protein 1 (BRCA1) heterodimerizes with its structural relative, the BRCA1-associated RING domain protein (BARD1), which may have tumor suppressing function in its own right. Both proteins have evolved from a common evolutionary ancestor, and both exist in Xenopus laevis where, similar to their mammalian homologs, they form functional heterodimers. Depleting frog embryos of either BARD1 or BRCA1 led to similar and widely defective developmental phenotypes as well as depletion of the other polypeptide due to its decreased stability. Thus, each protein, in part, controls the abundance, stability, and function of the other, and these effects are heterodimerization-dependent. The interdependent nature of BRCA1 and BARD1 function supports the view that BARD1/BRCA1 heterodimers play a major role in breast and ovarian cancer suppression.