ERCC1 (DNA excision repair protein)

Recognizes a protein of 33-36kDa, identified as the Excision Repair Cross Complementing (ERCC1). The mammalian ERCC1-encoded polypeptide is required for nucleotide excision repair (NER) of damaged DNA and is homologous to Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAD10, which functions in repair and mitotic intrachromosomal recombination. The structure-specific ERCC1/XPF endonuclease complex is implicated in the repair of two distinct types of lesions in DNA: NER for UV-induced lesions and bulky chemical adducts; and recombination repair of the very genotoxic interstrand cross-links. NER mechanism involves dual incisions on both sides of the damage catalyzed by two nucleases. In mammalian cells XPG cleaves 3' of the DNA lesion while the ERCC1-XPF complex makes the 5' incision. Elevated levels of ERCC1 have also been reported in Cisplatin-resistant cells.