RNF8 regulates assembly of RAD51 at DNA double-strand breaks in the absence of BRCA1 and 53BP1.

The tumor suppressor protein BRCA1 localizes to sites of DNA double-strand breaks (DSB), promoting repair by homologous recombination through the recruitment of DNA damage repair proteins. In normal cells, homologous recombination largely depends on BRCA1. However, assembly of the pivotal homologous recombination regulator RAD51 can occur independently of BRCA1 in the absence of 53BP1, another DNA damage response protein.