DCC

At least 11 DCC gene 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. These mutations change single protein building blocks (amino acids) in the netrin-1 receptor or introduce a premature stop signal in the instructions for making the protein, resulting in an impaired or missing protein. Insufficient functional netrin-1 receptor protein impairs control of axon growth during nervous system development. As a result, movement signals from each half of the brain are abnormally transmitted to both sides of the body, leading to mirror movements.

Deletions of genetic material that include the DCC gene have been found in more than 70 percent of colorectal cancers, as well as other cancerous tumors. This deletion is not inherited and is found only in the tumor cells. Deletion of the DCC gene results in the absence of 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.