JMJD1C demethylates MDC1 to regulate the RNF8 and BRCA1-mediated chromatin response to DNA breaks

Although the DNA damage–induced ubiquitylation by RNF8 and/or RNF168 ubiquitin ligases is crucial for the DNA-damage response (DDR), the precise mechanisms of ubiquitylation-mediated chromatin modulation and recruitment of DNA-repair proteins 53BP1 and RAP80–BRCA1 are not fully understood. A new study now indicates that human demethylase JMJD1C regulates the RAP80–BRCA1 branch of this DDR pathway.