# The RAP80-BRCC36 Deubiquitinating Complex in DNA Repair

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2021 · $331,097

## Abstract

Contact PD/PI: Greenberg, Roger A.
Summary
Faithful execution of homologous recombination DNA repair is essential for genome integrity and is a critical
determinant of cancer etiology and therapeutic response. This relationship is prominently exemplified by
hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, which arises as a consequence of germline mutations to BRCA1 and a
network of genes encoding its interacting partners. Dysfunction within this BRCA network produces
hypersensitivity to poly(ADP)ribose polymerase inhibitors, which are clinically approved agents that have efficacy
in the setting of BRCA mutation and homologous recombination deficiency in general. Resistance frequently
occurs to these agents as a consequence of restored homologous recombination DNA repair. It is thus essential
to understand how this occurs at a fundamental mechanistic level.
We discovered that BRCA1 is targeted to lysine63-linked ubiquitin chromatin regions aligning DNA double-strand
breaks and damaged replication forks. This localization requires BRCA1 interaction with the A-complex. This
dimeric complex of five proteins includes a ubiquitin binding protein, RAP80, and a deubiquitinating enzyme,
BRCC36. RAP80 and BRCC36 are specific for binding lysine63-linked ubiquitin and its hydrolysis. Deficiency of
the A-complex reduces BRCA1 DNA damage localization and causes excessive end resection at replication fork
damage. Interestingly, loss of the A-complex confers resistance to PARP inhibitors in genetic backgrounds where
end resection is diminished. How the BRCA1-A-complex links chromatin recognition to control of end resection
and therapeutic response is not currently understood.
This proposal will integrate in vivo, cellular, and structure guided biochemical approaches to understand how the
A-complex links DNA double-strand break ubiquitin recognition on nucleosomes to homologous recombination.
To achieve these goals, we develop novel methodologies that enable us to identify the entire DNA damage
response proteome on chromatin and how this affects nucleosome modifications and stability. These studies will
yield fundamental advances to the understanding of genome integrity control and clarify new strategies to target
underlying vulnerabilities in a broad range of malignancies.
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## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10129288
- **Project number:** 5R01CA138835-12
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Roger A Greenberg
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $331,097
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2009-12-01 → 2025-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10129288

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10129288, The RAP80-BRCC36 Deubiquitinating Complex in DNA Repair (5R01CA138835-12). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10129288. Licensed CC0.

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