Background information
The breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA1) localizes to chromosome 17q. Mutations within this gene account for approximately 45% of families with high incidence of breast cancer and at least 80% of families with increased incidence of both early-onset breast cancer and ovarian cancer. A second breast cancer susceptibility gene, BRCA2, located on chromosome 13q12-13, also confers a high incidence of breast cancer, but unlike BRCA1, BRCA2 does not confer a substantially elevated risk of ovarian cancer. The BRCA2-Associated Factor 35 (BRAF35) protein forms a complex with BRCA2, which associates with condensed chromatin during histone H3 phosphorylation. BRAF35 expression levels are highest in proliferating tissues and parallel BRCA2 expression patterns. The structure of BRAF35 includes a kinesin-like coiled coil domain and a nonspecific DNA binding HMG domain. The chromatin localization of BRAF35 and antibody microinjection studies indicate a role for the BRAF35/BRCA2 complex in cell cycle regulation.
