Normal Function of the XPC gene …..

The XPC gene provides instructions for making a protein which is involved in repairing damaged DNA ¾ DNA can be damaged by ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun and by toxic chemicals, radiation, and unstable molecules called free radicals.

As we already know that DNA damage occurs frequently, but normal cells are usually able to fix it before it can cause problems ¾ one of the major mechanisms to fix DNA is known as nucleotide excision repair (NER). The XPC protein starts this repair process by detecting DNA damage. Then a group (complex) of other proteins unwinds the section of DNA where the damage has occurred, snip out (excise) the abnormal section and replace the damaged area with the correct DNA.

Studies suggest that the XPC protein may have additional roles in DNA repair and in other cell activities. Very less is known about the proposed functions of the XPC protein.