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URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/ercc6/

ERCC6 gene

ERCC excision repair 6, chromatin remodeling factor

Normal Function

The ERCC6 gene provides instructions for making a protein called Cockayne syndrome B (CSB). This protein is involved in repairing damaged DNA and appears to assist with gene transcription, which is the first step in protein production.

DNA can be damaged by ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun and by toxic chemicals, radiation, and unstable molecules called free radicals. If left uncorrected, DNA damage accumulates, which causes cells to malfunction and can lead to cell death. Although DNA damage occurs frequently, cells are usually able to fix it before it can cause problems. Cells have several mechanisms to correct DNA damage; one such mechanism involves the CSB protein. This protein specializes in repairing damaged DNA within active genes (those genes undergoing gene transcription). When DNA in active genes is damaged, the enzyme that carries out gene transcription (RNA polymerase) gets stuck, and the process stalls. Researchers think that the CSB protein helps remove RNA polymerase from the damaged site, so the DNA can be repaired. The CSB protein may also assist in restarting gene transcription after the damage is corrected.

Health Conditions Related to Genetic Changes

Cockayne syndrome

More than 60 ERCC6 gene mutations that cause Cockayne syndrome have been identified. This rare condition includes a variety of features, including an abnormally small head size (microcephaly), very slow growth resulting in short stature, delayed development, and an increased sensitivity to sunlight (photosensitivity).

Many of the ERCC6 gene mutations that cause Cockayne syndrome lead to the production of an abnormally short version of the CSB protein that cannot function properly. Other mutations change single building blocks (amino acids) in the CSB protein, which also results in a malfunctioning protein.

The mechanism by which ERCC6 gene mutations lead to Cockayne syndrome is not well understood. The altered CSB protein probably hinders DNA repair and may be unable to assist with gene transcription. As a result, damaged DNA is not fixed, which disrupts gene transcription and prevents the normal production of proteins. These abnormalities impair cell function and eventually lead to the death of cells in many organs and tissues. Faulty DNA repair underlies photosensitivity in affected individuals, and researchers suspect that it also contributes to the other features of Cockayne syndrome. It is unclear how ERCC6 gene mutations cause all of the varied features of this condition.

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UV-sensitive syndrome

At least one mutation in the ERCC6 gene can cause UV-sensitive syndrome, a condition characterized by unusual sensitivity to UV rays from the sun. People with UV-sensitive syndrome sunburn easily and have freckled skin or other changes in skin coloring (pigmentation). The known mutation, which is written as Arg77Ter or R77X, replaces the amino acid arginine with a premature stop signal at position 77 in the CSB protein. If any protein is produced, it is abnormally short and quickly broken down. Without this protein, skin cells cannot repair DNA damage caused by UV rays, and transcription of damaged genes is blocked. However, it is unclear how a loss of the CSB protein causes UV-sensitive syndrome. Additionally, it is unknown why the Arg77Ter mutation causes photosensitivity without the other features of Cockayne syndrome (described above).

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Age-related macular degeneration

MedlinePlus Genetics provides information about Age-related macular degeneration

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Other Names for This Gene

  • ARMD5
  • CKN2
  • COFS
  • CSB
  • ERCC6_HUMAN
  • excision repair cross-complementation group 6
  • RAD26
  • Rad26 (yeast) homolog

Additional Information & Resources

Tests Listed in the Genetic Testing Registry

Scientific Articles on PubMed

Catalog of Genes and Diseases from OMIM

Gene and Variant Databases

References

  • Horibata K, Iwamoto Y, Kuraoka I, Jaspers NG, Kurimasa A, Oshimura M, Ichihashi M, Tanaka K. Complete absence of Cockayne syndrome group B gene product gives rise to UV-sensitive syndrome but not Cockayne syndrome. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 Oct 26;101(43):15410-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0404587101. Epub 2004 Oct 14. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Laugel V, Dalloz C, Durand M, Sauvanaud F, Kristensen U, Vincent MC, Pasquier L, Odent S, Cormier-Daire V, Gener B, Tobias ES, Tolmie JL, Martin-Coignard D, Drouin-Garraud V, Heron D, Journel H, Raffo E, Vigneron J, Lyonnet S, Murday V, Gubser-Mercati D, Funalot B, Brueton L, Sanchez Del Pozo J, Munoz E, Gennery AR, Salih M, Noruzinia M, Prescott K, Ramos L, Stark Z, Fieggen K, Chabrol B, Sarda P, Edery P, Bloch-Zupan A, Fawcett H, Pham D, Egly JM, Lehmann AR, Sarasin A, Dollfus H. Mutation update for the CSB/ERCC6 and CSA/ERCC8 genes involved in Cockayne syndrome. Hum Mutat. 2010 Feb;31(2):113-26. doi: 10.1002/humu.21154. Citation on PubMed
  • Laugel V. Cockayne Syndrome. 2000 Dec 28 [updated 2024 Aug 29]. In: Adam MP, Feldman J, Mirzaa GM, Pagon RA, Wallace SE, Amemiya A, editors. GeneReviews(R) [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2024. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1342/ Citation on PubMed
  • Laugel V. Cockayne syndrome: the expanding clinical and mutational spectrum. Mech Ageing Dev. 2013 May-Jun;134(5-6):161-70. doi: 10.1016/j.mad.2013.02.006. Epub 2013 Feb 18. Citation on PubMed
  • Licht CL, Stevnsner T, Bohr VA. Cockayne syndrome group B cellular and biochemical functions. Am J Hum Genet. 2003 Dec;73(6):1217-39. doi: 10.1086/380399. Epub 2003 Nov 24. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Newman JC, Bailey AD, Weiner AM. Cockayne syndrome group B protein (CSB) plays a general role in chromatin maintenance and remodeling. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Jun 20;103(25):9613-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0510909103. Epub 2006 Jun 13. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Spivak G, Hanawalt PC. Host cell reactivation of plasmids containing oxidative DNA lesions is defective in Cockayne syndrome but normal in UV-sensitive syndrome fibroblasts. DNA Repair (Amst). 2006 Jan 5;5(1):13-22. doi: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2005.06.017. Epub 2005 Aug 29. Citation on PubMed
  • Velez-Cruz R, Egly JM. Cockayne syndrome group B (CSB) protein: at the crossroads of transcriptional networks. Mech Ageing Dev. 2013 May-Jun;134(5-6):234-42. doi: 10.1016/j.mad.2013.03.004. Epub 2013 Apr 3. Citation on PubMed
  • Wilson BT, Lochan A, Stark Z, Sutton RE. Novel missense mutations in a conserved loop between ERCC6 (CSB) helicase motifs V and VI: Insights into Cockayne syndrome. Am J Med Genet A. 2016 Mar;170(3):773-6. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.37501. Epub 2016 Jan 8. Citation on PubMed

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.