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Transcriptional regulation of the murine brca2 gene by CREB/ATF transcription factors.

The brca2 gene encodes a nuclear protein which is mainly involved in DNA repair and, when mutated, is responsible for some of the hereditary breast cancers. However, brca2 expression is also deregulated in sporadic breast tumors. In the mouse brca2 gene we had earlier identified a region of 148bp upstream of the transcription start site sufficient to activate its expression. In the present report, we show that the -92 to -40bp region is essential for the transcription of brca2 in murine mammary cells and that this nucleotide sequence contains one putative CREB/ATF consensus site (cAMP responsive element: CRE). We demonstrated that the mutation of this binding site led to a highly significant reduction of the mouse brca2 transcription, and that CREB, CREM, and/or ATF-1 functionally bound to and regulated this promoter. Therefore, the regulation of the promoter of the mouse brca2 gene is driven by this family of transcription factors.

Activating Transcription Factors↗

Cancer variation associated with the position of the mutation in the BRCA2 gene.

Inherited mutations of the BRCA2 gene give rise to a multi-site cancer phenotype which includes breast cancer (in female and males), ovarian, pancreatic and prostate cancer, ocular and other melanomas, laryngeal, colon and stomach cancers. Interpretation of test results and risk assessment is therefore complex. It has been proposed that families with mutations in the ovarian cancer cluster region (OCCR) of exon 11 (nucleotides 3035-6629) express a higher ratio of ovarian to breast cancer, than families with mutations elsewhere in the BRCA2 gene. In this study we have investigated the presence of 7 types of cancer (ovary, male breast, pancreas, prostate, colon, stomach and melanoma) in first- and second-degree relatives of mutation-positive individuals in 440 families with a BRCA2 mutation. We reviewed histories of cancer in relatives among families with mutations distributed throughout the gene. Families with ovarian cancer were more likely to harbour mutations in the OCCR (nucleotides 3035-6629) than elsewhere in the gene (OR = 2.21; P = 0.0002). We also compared cancer risks according to ethnic group. Ashkenazi Jewish families with the 6174delT founder mutation were more likely to have a family member with ovarian cancer (OR = 1.58; P = 0.002) and less likely to have a family member with prostate cancer (OR = 0.62; P = 0.04) than were non-Jewish families. In contrast, a reduced presence of ovarian cancer was found in families of French-Canadian ancestry, compared to other ancestries (OR = 0.37; P = 0.0026). A high risk of male breast cancer was observed with the 6503delTT mutation (OR = 15.7; P = 0.023). Families of Polish ancestry had a reduced frequency of pancreatic cancer (OR = 0.0; P = 0.03) compared to families of other ethnic origins. In conclusion, both the position of mutation and the ethnic background of the family appear to contribute to the phenotypic variation observed in families with BRCA2 mutations.

BRCA2 Protein↗

Infrequent mutation in the BRCA2 gene in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Previous studies have shown a high rate of allelic loss in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in the vicinity of the BRCA2 gene. We aimed to assess whether the tumor suppressor gene BRCA2 was the inactivation target for allelic loss observed on chromosome 13q in ESCC. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We examined the entire coding sequence of the BRCA2 gene for mutations using single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and DNA sequencing in 56 ESCC patients from Shanxi, China. RESULTS: Eight mutations were identified in 5 patients (9%), including 3 with germ-line mutations and 2 with only somatic mutations. However, all but 1 of the mutations were missense or silent changes and of unknown significance. Evidence for potential biallelic inactivation was seen in only 4 (7%) cases. CONCLUSIONS: BRCA2 mutations occur in ESCC but are infrequent and of unknown consequence. The putative target tumor suppressor gene corresponding to the high rate of chromosome 13q allelic loss remains unknown.

Alleles↗

Structural analysis of the chicken BRCA2 gene facilitates identification of functional domains and disease causing mutations.

Carriers of mutations in the BRCA2 gene have a high risk of developing breast and other cancers. The BRCA2 gene, which is located on human chromosome 13, encodes a very large protein of only poorly understood function. To define regions of sequence conservation and highlight potentially functionally important domains, we have cloned and characterized the chicken BRCA2 gene, the first non-mammalian BRCA2 gene to be described. The gene is organized similarly to the human BRCA2 gene, but is more compact and is localized to the subtelomeric region of chicken chromosome 1q, within a region that contains other genes from human chromosome 13. The chicken BRCA2 gene encodes a protein of 3399 amino acids, which is poorly conserved with mammalian BRCA2 proteins, having only 37% amino acid identity overall with human BRCA2. However, certain domains are much more highly conserved, indicating functional significance. We describe genes with some of these conserved domains in organisms as diverse as intracellular parasites, mosquitoes and plants. The evolutionarily divergent chicken BRCA2 sequence may also be useful in assigning the large number of sequence variants that have been described in the human BRCA2 gene which are of unknown significance in disease causation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Clues to the function of the tumour susceptibility gene BRCA2.

The breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA2 was isolated in 1995. BRCA2 is a large gene comprising 10,254 nucleotides and 26 coding exons. Neither the nucleotide nor the predicted protein sequences (comprising 3,418 amino acids) have provided substantial clues about its function. As a result, researchers have been trying to elucidate the function using a combination of cell biological and biochemical methods and the construction of animal models using gene targeting in mice. Recent data suggest that BRCA2 may participate in pathways associated with recombination or double-strand DNA break repair and may act by either sensing or responding to DNA damage. In addition, there is evidence to suggest that BRCA2 functions in a manner similar to the previously isolated breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA1.

Animals↗

De novo recurrent germline mutation of the BRCA2 gene in a patient with early onset breast cancer.

Germline mutations in either of the two major breast cancer predisposition genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, account for a significant proportion of hereditary breast/ovarian cancer. Identification of breast cancer patients carrying mutations of these genes is primarily based on a positive family history of breast/ovarian cancer or early onset of the disease or both. In the course of mutation screening of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in a hospital based series of patients with risk factors for hereditary breast/ovarian cancer, we identified a germline mutation in the BRCA2 gene (3034del4) in a patient with early onset breast cancer and no strong family history of the disease. Subsequent molecular analysis in her parents showed that neither of them carried the mutation. Paternity was confirmed using a set of highly polymorphic markers, showing that the proband carried a de novo germline mutation in the BRCA2 gene. Interestingly, 3034del4 is a recurrent mutation occurring in a putative mutation prone region of the BRCA2 gene. Our study presents the first case in which a de novo germline mutation in the BRCA2 gene has been identified, and supports previous results of haplotype studies, confirming that the 3034del4 mutation has multiple independent origins.

Adult↗

[BRCA2 gene mutation detection in hereditary ovarian cancer tissues].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to detect the mutation of BRCA2 gene in hereditary ovarian cancer tissues to probe the clinical significance of it. METHODS: DNA was abstract from paraffin embedded tissues archived in pathology department. A pair of primer located on 11 exon was used to detect the 6174 delT mutation,BRCA2 gene mutation in 12 hereditary ovarian cancer patients and 15 sporadic ovarian cancer patients were screened by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism analysis with DNA non- isotopic silver staining methods. RESULTS: Two of 12 hereditary ovarian cancer victims were found carrying mutation of BRCA2 gene. The mutation type was 6174del T in the 11 exon of BRCA2 gene. No mutation of BRCA2 gene on this site was found in 15 sporadic ovarian cancer patients. CONCLUSION: BRCA2 gene mutation was closely associated with the carcinogenesis and development of hereditary ovarian cancer, but had no relationship with sporadic ovarian cancer.

Female↗

Genomic rearrangements in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes predispose women to breast and ovarian cancer. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are 83 and 86 kb long, with coding sequences of 5.7 and 10.2 kb, scattered over 22 and 26 coding exons, respectively. The large majority of the alterations identified in these genes are point mutations and small insertions/deletions. However, an increasing number of large genomic rearrangements are being identified, especially in BRCA1. This review gives a brief overview of the techniques used to screen the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes for large rearrangements, and describes those for which the breakpoints have been characterized. The principal mechanisms that are thought to lead to their formation, founder effects, and recombination hotspots, are also discussed.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Clinical follow up of mexican women with early onset of breast cancer and mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

OBJECTIVE: This study describes the presence of mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in a group of Mexican women and the clinical evolution of early onset breast cancer (EOBC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective hospital-based study was performed in a sample of 22 women with EOBC (7 in clinical stage IIA, 8 in IIB, and 7 in IIIA). The patients attended a tertiary care hospital in northeastern Mexico in 1997 and were followed up over a 5-year period. Molecular analysis included: 1) a mutation screening by heteroduplex analysis (HA) of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes and 2) a sequence analysis. RESULTS: Of 22 patients, 14 (63.6%) showed a variant band detected by heteroduplex analysis of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes: 8 polymorphisms, 4 mutations of uncertain significance, and 2 novel truncated protein mutations, one in BRCAI (exon 11, 3587delT) and the other in the BRCA2 gene (exon 11, 2664InsA). CONCLUSIONS: These findings support future studies to determine the significance and impact of the genetic factor in this Mexican women population.

Adult↗

A rapid fluorescent multiplexed-PCR analysis (FMPA) for founder mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

Mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes account for approximately 80% of hereditary breast/ovarian cancer families, but the size of these two genes makes mutation analysis time-consuming and technically challenging. In some populations such as the Ashkenazi Jewish and the French-Canadian, a small number of recurrent founder mutations account for the majority of mutations in cancer families. We have therefore developed two rapid genetic screening tests, which allow us to detect three frequent frameshift mutations in the Ashkenazi Jewish population and five frameshift mutations in the French-Canadian population. These fluorescent non-radioactive methods permit the simultaneous detection of multiple mutations by generating multiplexed PCR-amplified gene fragments, and by discriminating these on the basis of their size in a denaturing polyacrylamide gel. Using these methods, we were able to correctly identify all mutants in a blinded analysis of 276 DNA samples, including 30 derived from paraffin-embedded tumor samples and 10 from buccal-cell brushes, with no false positive or false negative results. These techniques designed for the direct detection of recurrent mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, have the advantages of being efficient, sensitive, cost-effective, and are applicable to large scale screening for epidemiologic studies.

BRCA2 Protein↗

Identification and evaluation of 55 genetic variations in the BRCA1 and the BRCA2 genes of patients from 50 Japanese breast cancer families.

We sequenced approximately 23 kb genomic regions containing all the coding exons and their franking introns of two breast cancer susceptibility genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, of 55 individuals from 50 unrelated Japanese breast cancer families. We identified 55 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (21 in BRCA1 and 34 in BRCA2) containing nine pathogenic protein-truncating mutations (four in BRCA1 and five in BRCA2 from ten patients). Among the remaining 46 SNPs, allele frequencies of 40 were examined in both the breast cancer patients and 28 healthy volunteers with no breast cancer family history by PCR-RFLP or by direct DNA sequencing. Twenty-eight SNPs were common and were also found in the healthy volunteers and/or a SNP database. The remaining 18 were rare (allele frequency <0.05) and were not found in the healthy volunteers and/or the database. The pathogenic significance of these coding SNPs (cSNPs) remains to be clarified. The SNP information from this study will be useful in the future genetic testing of both BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in the Japanese population.

Alleles↗

Cancer susceptibility of mice with a homozygous deletion in the COOH-terminal domain of the Brca2 gene.

Inherited mutations of the human BRCA2 gene confer increased risks for developing breast, ovarian, and several other cancers. Unlike previously described Brca2 knockout mice that display predominantly embryonic lethal phenotypes, we developed mice with a homozygous germ-line deletion of Brca2 exon 27 that exhibit a moderate decrease in perinatal viability and are fertile. We deleted this Brca2 COOH-terminal domain because it interacts directly with the Rad51 protein, contains a nuclear localization signal, and is required to maintain genomic stability in response to various types of DNA damage. These homozygous Brca2-mutant mice have a significantly increased overall tumor incidence and decreased survival compared with their heterozygous littermates. Virgin female mice homozygous for this Brca2 mutation also display an inhibition of ductal side branching in the mammary gland at 6 months of age. Given their substantial viability and cancer predisposition, these mutant mice will be useful to further define the role of the COOH-terminal Brca2 domain in tumorigenesis both in vivo and in vitro.

Animals↗

De novo Alu element insertions targeted to a sequence common to the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

Linkage analysis suggests that mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are responsible for cancer predisposition in more than 80% of the families with high incidence of breast/ovarian cancer. However, pathogenic mutations in the BRCA1/2 genes are generally identified in much less than half of the families investigated in a diagnostic setting with the currently used PCR-based screening protocols. Here we report the identification of two different de novo Alu element insertions within the BRCA1/2 coding sequences in three out of the 50 families in which we found a cancer predisposing mutation, suggesting that this type of mutation is much more common than suggested by their occurrence in mutation databases. The Alu insertion in the BRCA2 gene resulted in the removal of the targeted exon from the corresponding mRNA molecule. Unexpectedly the Target Site Duplications generated by both Alu element insertions contained a specific 9 bp long segment, which might eventually serve as a recognition site for the transposition machinery. Finally, in contrast to the disease causing Alu insertions reported to date, the transposon identified in the BRCA1 gene does not belong to a "young" AluY but to an AluS subfamily, indicating that some of these "old" Alu elements, which are supposed to be non-functional fossil relics, are still able to retrotranspose in vivo.

Alu Elements↗

RNA-based analysis of BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene alterations.

Alterations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes account for a large proportion of hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. Mutations and variants of unknown pathological significance have been identified in both genes; however, most of them have been studied only at the genomic level, and their effect on mRNA expression remains unknown. We identified two BRCA1 and six BRCA2 splice site variants, and one BRCA2 alteration at exon 14. Our aim was to ascertain the effect on RNA processing of the variants still unclassified. We found that BRCA1 c.IVS11 + 1G>A, BRCA2 c.7252_7272delinsTG, BRCA2 c.IVS2 + 1G>A, BRCA2 c.IVS13-2A>G, BRCA2 c.IVS21 + 4A>G, and BRCA2 c.9345G>A lead to aberrant transcripts in lymphocytes. Five of these six splice site variants caused a complete inactivation of the mutant allele because they produced frameshift similar to previously described deleterious exonic variants. Therefore, we consider them to be true deleterious mutations, possibly associated with an increased lifetime risk of breast or ovarian cancer. BRCA1 c.IVS17 + 6C>G, BRCA2 c.IVS12-9del4, and BRCA2 IVS1-9del3 represent rare variants, not disrupting normal mRNA processing. The last two BRCA2 genetic variants had not been reported in the Breast Cancer Information Core BIC database.

Alternative Splicing↗

[Inherited predisposition to breast cancer: after the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, what next?].

Germline mutations of the breast cancer predisposing known genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, with an autosomal dominant transmission explain only a part of the familial aggregation of breast cancer. Mainly involved in families with cases of ovarian cancer or male breast cancer, they account for a small proportion of families where only female breast cancer cases are observed. A third predisposing gene, called BRCA3, has been sought for a long time but without success. Recently, genetic epidemiology studies have shown evidence for non-mendelian inheritance. The familial residual risk non due to BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes could be explain by a polygenic model, corresponding to the multiplicative effects of several genes, more frequent in population but conferring moderate risks of cancer. The identification of these low penetrance genes is the challenge over the next years. We present here a focusing of recent knowledge on breast cancer predisposing genes, the perspectives of research and their implications in the practice of genetic counselling.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Cloning, chromosomal mapping and expression pattern of the mouse Brca2 gene.

A proportion of human breast cancers result from an inherited predisposition to the disease. Mutations in the BRCA2 gene confer a high risk of breast cancer and are responsible for almost half of these cases. The recent cloning of the human BRCA2 gene has revealed that it encodes a large protein having little significant homology to known proteins. Here we describe the mouse Brca2 gene. The gene maps to mouse chromosome 5, consistent with its location on human chromosome 13q12. We have sequenced cDNA for the entire 3329 amino acid Brca2 protein and this has revealed that, like Brca1, Brca2 is relatively poorly conserved between humans and mice. Brca2 is transcribed in a diverse range of mouse tissues, and the pattern of expression is strikingly similar to that of Brca1. Taken together, our data highlight some intriguing similarities between two genes involved in inherited breast cancer susceptibility.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mutation analysis of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes results in the identification of novel and recurrent mutations in 6/16 flemish families with breast and/or ovarian cancer but not in 12 sporadic patients with early-onset disease. Mutations in brief no. 224. Online.

Since the identification of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes (MIM#s 113705 and 600185), more than hundred different mutations throughout both genes have been reported. Recurrent mutations are rare and mainly due to founder effects. We analyzed 12 sporadic female patients with breast cancer before age 35, as well as 16 unrelated families, presenting with either (i) at least 3 first degree relatives with breast and/or ovarian cancer diagnosed at any age, or (ii) at least 2 first and/or second degree relatives with breast and/or ovarian cancer before age 45 years. We performed a protein truncation test for BRCA1 exon 11 and BRCA2 exons 10 and 11 and heteroduplex analysis for all the remaining exons of BRCA1 and 2. Presence of genomic deletions encompassing exons 13 or 22 of BRCA1, known to be Dutch founder mutations, was investigated by PCR. In 6/16 (37.5%) unrelated families the causal mutation in either the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene was identified. Four different mutations were found in the BRCA1 gene: IVS5+3A>G (intron 5), 1191delC (exon 11), R1443X (exon 13), IVS22+5G>A (intron 22) and two in the BRCA2 gene: 6503delTT (exon 11), 6831delTG (exon 11). 1191delC (BRCA1) and 6831delTG (BRCA2) are novel mutations. IVS5+3A>G in exon 5 of BRCA1 published by Peelen et al. (1997) as a novel Belgian mutation, was identified in one additional family, not fulfilling our inclusion criteria. In the group of 12 sporadic female patients no mutations were found.

Adult↗