BRCA1 directly binds to deoxyribonucleic acid, with higher affinity for branched deoxyribonucleic acid structures. This ability to bind to deoxyribonucleic acid contributes to its ability to inhibit the enzyme activity of the MRN complicated further because the enzyme activity of Mre11 alone.[32] this could justify a task for BRCA1 to push lower fidelity deoxyribonucleic acid repair by non-homologous finish connation (NHEJ). BRCA1 conjointly co localizes with γ-H2AX (his tone H2AX phosphorylated on serine-139) in deoxyribonucleic acid double-strand break repair foci, indicating it's going to play a task in recruiting repair factors.

Formaldehyde and Aldehyde square measure common environmental sources of deoxyribonucleic acid cross links that always need repairs mediate by BRCA1 containing pathways.