XRCC3: Proteins and Enzymes

XRCC3, also known as DNA repair protein XRCC3, X-ray repair cross-complementing protein 3, and CMM6, belongs to the RecA family and the RAD51 subfamily. XRCC3 plays a role in the homologous recombination repair (HRR) pathway of double-stranded DNA. The pathway is responsible for repairing chromosomal fragmentation, translocations, and deletions. Additionally, XRCC3 is also involved in regulating the mitochondrial DNA copy number in the presence of oxidative stress in the presence of RAD51 and RAD51C. XRCC3 is a functional compliment to Chinese hamster irs1SF. Rare microsatellite polymorphisms in the XRCC3 gene have been associated with cancer in patients with radiosensitivity. Defects of the XRCC3 gene have also been linked to breast cancer and cutaneous malignant melanoma type 6 (CMM6).