BP1

Breast cancer 1, early onset (BRCA1) is a well-known tumor suppressor gene that was originally discovered due to its link with early-onset breast and ovarian cancer in women. The BRCA1 protein contains the following domains: RING finger, RAD51-interaction, and BRCT (BRCA1 C-terminus). The N-terminus RING domain enables binding to several proteins - including BARD1 (BRCA1-associated RING domain protein) - allowing the formation of heterodimers. The RING finger is important for tumor suppressor activity. The RAD51-interaction domain is involved in DNA double-stranded break (DSB) repair.

The transcription factor beta protein 1 (BP1) is a member of the homeobox gene family and the distal-less subfamily. Expression of BP1 is highly tissue-specific and developmentally restricted. Among different human tissues, BP1 is found to be highly expressed in placenta, kidney and at lower levels in fetal liver (1). Such restricted pattern of expression is compatible with a specific gene function in development and/or differentiation.