Clues for Cancer

Increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer are associated with faults in a gene called BRCA2. Researchers already know that the healthy version of this gene produces a protein that repairs damaged DNA. Recent work suggests it might also be necessary for proper cell division – the doubling of the genome (all the DNA) in a cell, which is then split between two daughter cells. To investigate, researchers looked at the inner workings of human cells lacking the BRCA2 protein. This picture reveals their findings – DNA is stained blue and α-tubulin (a scaffold-like protein used here to identify different cells) is coloured red. Each fully formed cell has only one nucleus (blue blob) – suggesting the two copies of the genome have been successfully divided into separate cells. So BRCA2 – at least in humans – doesn’t control cell division.

Written by Rebecca Hill

Rebecca Hill

Writer

Genetics editor of newsletter BioNews and freelance journalist, Beki has written for The Guardian and The Times. She studied biological sciences, obtaining a BSc and PhD from the University of Sheffield.

• Mark Petronczki
• Cancer Research UK London Research Institute
• Published in Journal of Cell Science