MDC1

Description

The MDC1 (mediator of DNA damage checkpoint 1) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 6.

Mediator of DNA damage checkpoint protein 1 is a 2080 amino acid long protein that in humans is encoded by the MDC1 gene located on the short arm (p) of chromosome 6. MDC1 protein is a regulator of the Intra-S phase and the G2/M cell cycle checkpoints and recruits repair proteins to the site of DNA damage. It is involved in determining cell survival fate in association with tumor suppressor protein p53. This protein also goes by the name Nuclear Factor with BRCT Domain 1 (NFBD1).

== Function ==

=== Role in DNA damage response === The MDC1 gene encodes the MDC1 nuclear protein which is part of the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway, the mechanism through which eukaryotic cells respond to damaged DNA, specifically DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) that are caused by ionizing radiation or chemical clastogens. The DDR of mammalian cells is made up of kinases, and mediator/adaptors factors. In mammalian cells the DDR is a network of pathways made up of proteins that function as either kinases, or and mediator/adaptors that recruit the kinases to their phosphorylation targets, these factors work together to detect DNA damage, and signal the repair mechanism as well as activating cell cycle checkpoints. The MDC1s role in DDR is to function both as a mediator/adaptor protein mediating a complex of other DDR proteins at the site of DNA damage and repairing DNA damage through its PST domain. When a cell is exposed to ionizing radiation, its chromatin can be damaged with DSB, triggering the DDR which starts with the MRN complex recruiting ATM kinase to the exposed H2AX histones on the damaged DNA. ATM phosphorylates the C-terminus of the H2AX histone (phosphorylated H2AX histones are commonly noted as γH2AX), and they become an epigenetic flag that highlights the site of DNA damage . The SDT domain of the MDC1 protein is phosphorylated by caseine kinase 2 (CK2) which allows it to bind another MRN complex, the MDC1 protein can sense the DNA damage by binding to the γH2AX flag through its BRCT domain and brings the bound MRN complex to the site of damaged DNA and it facilitates the recruitment and retention of another ATM kinase.

Histone reader protein required for checkpoint-mediated cell cycle arrest in response to DNA damage within both the S phase and G2/M phases of the cell cycle. Specifically recognizes and binds histone H2AX phosphorylated at 'Ser-139', a marker of DNA damage, serving as a scaffold for the recruitment of DNA repair and signal transduction proteins to discrete foci of DNA damage sites. Also required for downstream events subsequent to the recruitment of these proteins. These include phosphorylation and activation of the ATM, CHEK1 and CHEK2 kinases, and stabilization of TP53/p53 and apoptosis. ATM and CHEK2 may also be activated independently by a parallel pathway mediated by TP53BP1. Required for chromosomal stability during mitosis by promoting recruitment of TOPBP1 to DNA double strand breaks (DSBs): TOPBP1 forms filamentous assemblies that bridge MDC1 and tether broken chromosomes during mitosis.

MDC1 is also known as NFBD1.

Associated Diseases

WES Whole Exome Sequencing