Robust homology-directed repair within mouse mammary tissue is not specifically affected by Brca2 mutation.

The mammary gland undergoes significant proliferative stages after birth, but little is known about how the developmental changes impact DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair. Mutations in multiple genes involved in homology-directed repair (HDR), considered a particularly accurate pathway for repairing DSBs, are linked to breast cancer susceptibility, including BRCA2. Using reporter mice that express an inducible endonuclease, we find that HDR is particularly robust in mammary tissue during puberty and pregnancy, accounting for 34-40% of detected repair events, more than in other tissues examined.

Double-strand break repair by homologous recombination in primary mouse somatic cells requires BRCA1 but not the ATM kinase.

Homology-directed repair (HDR) is a critical pathway for the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in mammalian cells. Efficient HDR is thought to be crucial for maintenance of genomic integrity during organismal development and tumor suppression. However, most mammalian HDR studies have focused on transformed and immortalized cell lines.

RAD51 can inhibit PDGF-B-induced gliomagenesis and genomic instability.

Faithful replication and DNA repair are vital for maintenance of genome integrity. RAD51 is a central protein in homologous recombination repair and during replication, when it protects and restarts stalled replication forks. Aberrant RAD51 expression occurs in glioma, and high expression has been shown to correlate with prolonged survival.

Assaying double-strand break repair pathway choice in mammalian cells using a targeted endonuclease or the RAG recombinase.

DNA damage repair is essential for the maintenance of genetic integrity in all organisms. Unrepaired or imprecisely repaired DNA can lead to mutagenesis, cell death, or malignant transformation. DNA damage in the form of double-strand breaks (DSBs) can occur as a result of both exogenous insults, such as ionizing radiation and drug therapies, and normal metabolic processes including V(D)J recombination.