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Normal Function
The DCC gene provides instructions for making a protein called the netrin-1 receptor, which is involved in the development of the nervous system. This protein attaches (binds) to a protein called netrin-1, and these two proteins fit together like a lock and key. The binding of netrin-1 to its receptor helps direct the growth of specialized nerve cell extensions called axons. Axons transmit nerve impulses that can signal muscle movement.
When the brain sends a signal to trigger muscle movement, the signal usually travels from one half of the brain to the opposite side of the body. The binding of netrin-1 to its receptor allows axons to develop this signaling pathway.
The netrin-1 receptor is also thought to act as a dependence receptor, which means it functions differently depending on whether or not it is bound to its protein. When the netrin-1 receptor is bound to netrin-1, it plays a role in nervous system development. When it is not bound to netrin-1, the netrin-1 receptor acts as a tumor suppressor, which means that it keeps cells from growing and dividing too fast or in an uncontrolled way. When the netrin-1 receptor is acting as a tumor suppressor, studies suggest that the netrin-1 receptor triggers the self-destruction of cells when they are no longer needed (apoptosis).
Health Conditions Related to Genetic Changes
Congenital mirror movement disorder
DCC gene variants (also called mutations) have been identified in people with congenital mirror movement disorder, a condition in which intentional movements of one side of the body are mirrored by involuntary movements of the other side of the body. These variants change single protein building blocks (amino acids) in the netrin-1 receptor or cause cells to produce an abnormally short version of the protein.Without functional netrin-1 proteins, the growth of axons during nervous system development is not properly directed. As a result, movement signals that originate in one half of the brain are transmitted to both sides of the body, leading to mirror movements.
More About This Health ConditionCancers
The loss (deletion) of the DCC gene and nearby genetic material has been found in the majority of colorectal cancer cases. This deletion is also found in other cancerous tumors but not as frequently. In the cancer cases that have been associated with the loss of the DCC gene, the deletion was not inherited and was only found in the tumor cells. Without the DCC gene, cells cannot produce the netrin-1 receptor. As a result, the netrin-1 receptor is not available to trigger apoptosis, resulting in the uncontrolled cell growth and division that leads to cancer.
Other Names for This Gene
- CRC18
- CRCR1
- DCC_HUMAN
- IGDCC1
- MRMV1
- netrin receptor DCC
- NTN1R1
- tumor suppressor protein DCC
Additional Information & Resources
Tests Listed in the Genetic Testing Registry
Scientific Articles on PubMed
Catalog of Genes and Diseases from OMIM
References
- Arakawa H. Netrin-1 and its receptors in tumorigenesis. Nat Rev Cancer. 2004 Dec;4(12):978-87. doi: 10.1038/nrc1504. Citation on PubMed
- Depienne C, Cincotta M, Billot S, Bouteiller D, Groppa S, Brochard V, Flamand C, Hubsch C, Meunier S, Giovannelli F, Klebe S, Corvol JC, Vidailhet M, Brice A, Roze E. A novel DCC mutation and genetic heterogeneity in congenital mirror movements. Neurology. 2011 Jan 18;76(3):260-4. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e318207b1e0. Citation on PubMed
- Franz EA, Chiaroni-Clarke R, Woodrow S, Glendining KA, Jasoni CL, Robertson SP, Gardner RJM, Markie D. Congenital mirror movements: phenotypes associated with DCC and RAD51 mutations. J Neurol Sci. 2015 Apr 15;351(1-2):140-145. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2015.03.006. Epub 2015 Mar 10. Citation on PubMed
- Gallea C, Popa T, Billot S, Meneret A, Depienne C, Roze E. Congenital mirror movements: a clue to understanding bimanual motor control. J Neurol. 2011 Nov;258(11):1911-9. doi: 10.1007/s00415-011-6107-9. Epub 2011 Jun 3. Citation on PubMed
- Mehlen P, Llambi F. Role of netrin-1 and netrin-1 dependence receptors in colorectal cancers. Br J Cancer. 2005 Jul 11;93(1):1-6. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6602656. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
- Meneret A, Depienne C, Riant F, Trouillard O, Bouteiller D, Cincotta M, Bitoun P, Wickert J, Lagroua I, Westenberger A, Borgheresi A, Doummar D, Romano M, Rossi S, Defebvre L, De Meirleir L, Espay AJ, Fiori S, Klebe S, Quelin C, Rudnik-Schoneborn S, Plessis G, Dale RC, Sklower Brooks S, Dziezyc K, Pollak P, Golmard JL, Vidailhet M, Brice A, Roze E. Congenital mirror movements: mutational analysis of RAD51 and DCC in 26 cases. Neurology. 2014 Jun 3;82(22):1999-2002. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000000477. Epub 2014 May 7. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
- Meneret A, Trouillard O, Dunoyer M, Depienne C, Roze E. Congenital Mirror Movements. 2015 Mar 12 [updated 2020 Sep 24]. In: Adam MP, Feldman J, Mirzaa GM, Pagon RA, Wallace SE, Amemiya A, editors. GeneReviews(R) [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2025. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279760/ Citation on PubMed
- Peng J, Charron F. Lateralization of motor control in the human nervous system: genetics of mirror movements. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2013 Feb;23(1):109-18. doi: 10.1016/j.conb.2012.08.007. Epub 2012 Sep 16. Citation on PubMed
- Srour M, Riviere JB, Pham JM, Dube MP, Girard S, Morin S, Dion PA, Asselin G, Rochefort D, Hince P, Diab S, Sharafaddinzadeh N, Chouinard S, Theoret H, Charron F, Rouleau GA. Mutations in DCC cause congenital mirror movements. Science. 2010 Apr 30;328(5978):592. doi: 10.1126/science.1186463. Citation on PubMed
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