This family consists of several cofactor of BRCA1 (COBRA1) like proteins. It is thought that COBRA1 along with BRCA1 is involved in chromatin unfolding. COBRA1 is recruited to the chromosome site by the first BRCT repeat of BRCA1, and is itself sufficient to induce chromatin unfolding. BRCA1 mutations that enhance chromatin unfolding also increase its affinity for, and recruitment of, COBRA1. It is thought that that reorganisation of higher levels of chromatin structure is an important regulated step in BRCA1-mediated nuclear functions [1].

1: BRCA1-induced large-scale chromatin unfolding and allele-specific effects of cancer-predisposing mutations. Ye Q, Hu YF, Zhong H, Nye AC, Belmont AS, Li R; J Cell Biol 2001;155:911-921. PMID:11739404