Scientists studying breast cancer gene

Scientists are closer to understanding the role of a gene that is closely linked to breast and ovarian cancer.

BRCA1 attaches to a protein called ubiquitin in a process vital to a specific type of “error free” DNA repair, a study has found.

Cells lacking this property of the gene, known as “ubiquitin ligase activity”, become sensitive to agents that can damage DNA and increase the risk of cancer.