DNA excision repair protein ERCC-1 (ERCC1)

DNA excision repair protein ERCC-1 (ERCC1) is the non-catalytic subunit of the ERCC1-XPF heterodimeric endonuclease complex, which has vital functions in multiple DNA repair pathways, particularly nucleotide excision repair (NER) in eukaryotic cells. ERCC1 forms a heterodimer with XPF (ERCC4), where XPF provides the catalytic nuclease activity and ERCC1 mediates DNA and protein interactions necessary for repair complex assembly. This structure-specific nuclease cleaves DNA at junctions of double-stranded and single-stranded regions, crucially excising damaged DNA fragments, repairing crosslinks, and participating in double-strand break repair and homologous recombination. Deficiency or mutation of ERCC1 is linked to reduced DNA repair capacity and various genetic syndromes, heightened sensitivity to DNA damage, premature aging, and lethality in knockout models. Clinically, ERCC1 protein expression is a predictive biomarker of resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy in cancer, and the complex is a therapeutic target under investigation for modulating DNA repair to overcome treatment resistance

Other names

ERCC1RAD10COFS4UV20excision repair cross-complementation group 1excision repair cross-complementing rodent repair deficiencyERCC1-XPFDNA excision repair protein ERCC-1

Drugs that inhibit ERCC1-XPF can sensitize cells to DNA-damaging agents by impairing DNA repair Platinum-based agents form DNA crosslinks, which require ERCC1-XPF for repair; high ERCC1 can confer resistance