Reviewed August 2007
What is the official name of the BRCA1 gene?
The official name of this gene is “breast cancer 1, early onset.”
BRCA1 is the gene's official symbol. The BRCA1 gene is also known by other names, listed below.
What is the normal function of the BRCA1 gene?
The BRCA1 gene belongs to a class of genes known as tumor suppressor genes. Like many other tumor suppressors, the protein produced from the BRCA1 gene helps prevent cells from growing and dividing too rapidly or in an uncontrolled way.
The BRCA1 gene provides instructions for making a protein that is directly involved in repairing damaged DNA. In the nucleus of many types of normal cells, the BRCA1 protein interacts with several other proteins, including the proteins produced from the RAD51 and BARD1 genes, to mend breaks in DNA. These breaks can be caused by natural and medical radiation or other environmental exposures, and also occur when chromosomes exchange genetic material in preparation for cell division. By helping repair DNA, BRCA1 plays a role in maintaining the stability of a cell's genetic information.
Research suggests that the BRCA1 protein also regulates the activity of other genes and plays a critical role in embryonic development. To carry out these functions, the BRCA1 protein interacts with many other proteins, including other tumor suppressors and proteins that regulate cell division.
Does the BRCA1 gene share characteristics with other genes?
The BRCA1 gene belongs to a family of genes called RNF (RING-type zinc fingers).
A gene family is a group of genes that share important characteristics. Classifying individual genes into families helps researchers describe how genes are related to each other. For more information, see What are gene families? (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/howgeneswork/genefamilies) in the Handbook.
How are changes in the BRCA1 gene related to health conditions?
- breast cancer - increased risk from variations of the BRCA1 gene
-
Researchers have identified more than 1,000 mutations in the BRCA1 gene, many of which are associated with an increased risk of cancer (particularly breast cancer in women). Most of these mutations lead to the production of an abnormally short version of the BRCA1 protein, or prevent any protein from being made from one copy of the gene. Other BRCA1 mutations change single protein building blocks (amino acids) in the protein or delete large segments of DNA from the BRCA1 gene. Researchers believe that a defective or missing BRCA1 protein is unable to help repair damaged DNA or fix mutations that occur in other genes. As these defects accumulate, they can allow cells to grow and divide uncontrollably and form a tumor.
- other cancers - increased risk from variations of the BRCA1 gene
-
In addition to female breast cancer, mutations in the BRCA1 gene also increase the risk of several other types of cancer including fallopian tube cancer, male breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Many of these mutations change one of the amino acids used to make the BRCA1 protein, resulting in a protein that cannot perform its normal DNA repair function.
Where is the BRCA1 gene located?
Cytogenetic Location: 17q21
Molecular Location on chromosome 17: base pairs 41,196,311 to 41,277,499
The BRCA1 gene is located on the long (q) arm of chromosome 17 at position 21.
More precisely, the BRCA1 gene is located from base pair 41,196,311 to base pair 41,277,499 on chromosome 17.
See How do geneticists indicate the location of a gene? (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/howgeneswork/genelocation) in the Handbook.
Where can I find additional information about BRCA1?
You and your healthcare professional may find the following resources about BRCA1 helpful.
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Educational resources - Information pages
- Cancer Medicine (sixth edition, 2003): BRCA1 and BRCA2: Gene Structure and Function (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK12959/)
- National Cancer Institute: Genetics of Breast and Ovarian Cancer (PDQ) (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/genetics/breast-and-ovarian/HealthProfessional/page1)
- Gene Reviews - Clinical summary (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshelf/br.fcgi?book=gene&part=brca1)
- Gene Tests - Genetic tests ordered by healthcare professionals (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/GeneTests/lab/clinical_disease_id/2422)
You may also be interested in these resources, which are designed for genetics professionals and researchers.
- PubMed - Recent literature (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((BRCA1%5BMAJR%5D)%20AND%20(BRCA1%5BTI%5D))%20AND%20(genes%5BMH%5D)%20AND%20review%5Bpt%5D%20AND%20english%5Bla%5D%20AND%20human%5Bmh%5D%20AND%20%22last%20360%20days%22%5Bdp%5D)
- OMIM - Genetic disorder catalog (http://omim.org/entry/113705)
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Research Resources - Tools for researchers
- Atlas of Genetics and Cytogenetics in Oncology and Haematology (http://atlasgeneticsoncology.org/Genes/GC_BRCA1.html)
- Cancer Genetics Web: BRCA1 (http://www.cancerindex.org/geneweb/BRCA1.htm)
- Entrez Gene (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/672)
- GeneCards (http://www.genecards.org/cgi-bin/carddisp.pl?id_type=entrezgene&id=672)
- HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (http://www.genenames.org/data/hgnc_data.php?hgnc_id=1100)
What other names do people use for the BRCA1 gene or gene products?
- BRCA1 gene
- BRCA1_HUMAN
- BRCC1
- Breast Cancer 1, Early Onset Gene
- Breast Cancer 1 Gene
- Breast Cancer, Type 1
- Breast Cancer Type 1 Susceptibility Gene
- Breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein
- breast-ovarian cancer, included
- Hereditary Breast Cancer 1
- IRIS
- PPP1R53
- PSCP
- RNF53
See How are genetic conditions and genes named? (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/mutationsanddisorders/naming) in the Handbook.
What glossary definitions help with understanding BRCA1?
acids ;
amino acid ;
cancer ;
cell ;
cell division ;
chromosome ;
class ;
DNA ;
DNA repair ;
embryonic ;
gene ;
mutation ;
nucleus ;
ovarian ;
pancreatic ;
protein ;
radiation ;
susceptibility ;
susceptibility gene ;
tumor ;
tumor suppressor gene
You may find definitions for these and many other terms in the Genetics Home Reference
Glossary (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/glossary).
References
- Antoniou A, Pharoah PD, Narod S, Risch HA, Eyfjord JE, Hopper JL, Loman N, Olsson H, Johannsson O, Borg A, Pasini B, Radice P, Manoukian S, Eccles DM, Tang N, Olah E, Anton-Culver H, Warner E, Lubinski J, Gronwald J, Gorski B, Tulinius H, Thorlacius S, Eerola H, Nevanlinna H, Syrjäkoski K, Kallioniemi OP, Thompson D, Evans C, Peto J, Lalloo F, Evans DG, Easton DF. Average risks of breast and ovarian cancer associated with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations detected in case Series unselected for family history: a combined analysis of 22 studies. Am J Hum Genet. 2003 May;72(5):1117-30. Epub 2003 Apr 3. Erratum in: Am J Hum Genet. 2003 Sep;73(3):709. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12677558?dopt=Abstract)
- Billack B, Monteiro AN. BRCA1 in breast and ovarian cancer predisposition. Cancer Lett. 2005 Sep 8;227(1):1-7. Epub 2004 Dec 13. Review. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16051027?dopt=Abstract)
- Chen S, Parmigiani G. Meta-analysis of BRCA1 and BRCA2 penetrance. J Clin Oncol. 2007 Apr 10;25(11):1329-33. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17416853?dopt=Abstract)
- Deng CX. BRCA1: cell cycle checkpoint, genetic instability, DNA damage response and cancer evolution. Nucleic Acids Res. 2006 Mar 6;34(5):1416-26. Print 2006. Review. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16522651?dopt=Abstract)
- Ding SL, Sheu LF, Yu JC, Yang TL, Chen BF, Leu FJ, Shen CY. Abnormality of the DNA double-strand-break checkpoint/repair genes, ATM, BRCA1 and TP53, in breast cancer is related to tumour grade. Br J Cancer. 2004 May 17;90(10):1995-2001. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15138484?dopt=Abstract)
- Dumitrescu RG, Cotarla I. Understanding breast cancer risk -- where do we stand in 2005? J Cell Mol Med. 2005 Jan-Mar;9(1):208-21. Review. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15784178?dopt=Abstract)
- Entrez Gene (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/672)
- Foulkes WD, Metcalfe K, Sun P, Hanna WM, Lynch HT, Ghadirian P, Tung N, Olopade OI, Weber BL, McLennan J, Olivotto IA, Bégin LR, Narod SA. Estrogen receptor status in BRCA1- and BRCA2-related breast cancer: the influence of age, grade, and histological type. Clin Cancer Res. 2004 Mar 15;10(6):2029-34. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15041722?dopt=Abstract)
- Gene Review: BRCA1 and BRCA2 Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshelf/br.fcgi?book=gene&part=brca1)
- Lacroix M, Leclercq G. The "portrait" of hereditary breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2005 Feb;89(3):297-304. Review. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15754129?dopt=Abstract)
- Levy-Lahad E, Friedman E. Cancer risks among BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. Br J Cancer. 2007 Jan 15;96(1):11-5. Review. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17213823?dopt=Abstract)
- Liede A, Karlan BY, Narod SA. Cancer risks for male carriers of germline mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2: a review of the literature. J Clin Oncol. 2004 Feb 15;22(4):735-42. Review. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14966099?dopt=Abstract)
- Metcalfe K, Lynch HT, Ghadirian P, Tung N, Olivotto I, Warner E, Olopade OI, Eisen A, Weber B, McLennan J, Sun P, Foulkes WD, Narod SA. Contralateral breast cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. J Clin Oncol. 2004 Jun 15;22(12):2328-35. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15197194?dopt=Abstract)
- Nelson HD, Huffman LH, Fu R, Harris EL; U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Genetic risk assessment and BRCA mutation testing for breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility: systematic evidence review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med. 2005 Sep 6;143(5):362-79. Review. Erratum in: Ann Intern Med. 2005 Oct 4;143(7):547. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16144895?dopt=Abstract)
- Powell SN, Kachnic LA. Roles of BRCA1 and BRCA2 in homologous recombination, DNA replication fidelity and the cellular response to ionizing radiation. Oncogene. 2003 Sep 1;22(37):5784-91. Review. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12947386?dopt=Abstract)
- Scully R, Puget N. BRCA1 and BRCA2 in hereditary breast cancer. Biochimie. 2002 Jan;84(1):95-102. Review. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11900881?dopt=Abstract)
- Venkitaraman AR. Cancer susceptibility and the functions of BRCA1 and BRCA2. Cell. 2002 Jan 25;108(2):171-82. Review. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11832208?dopt=Abstract)
- Walsh T, Casadei S, Coats KH, Swisher E, Stray SM, Higgins J, Roach KC, Mandell J, Lee MK, Ciernikova S, Foretova L, Soucek P, King MC. Spectrum of mutations in BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2, and TP53 in families at high risk of breast cancer. JAMA. 2006 Mar 22;295(12):1379-88. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16551709?dopt=Abstract)
The resources on this site should not be used as a substitute for
professional medical care or advice. Users seeking information about
a personal genetic disease, syndrome, or condition should consult with a qualified
healthcare professional.
See How can I find a genetics professional in my area? (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/consult/findingprofessional) in the Handbook.