Expression cloning of a cDNA for the major Fanconi anaemia gene, FAA

Nat Genet. 1996 Nov;14(3):320-3. doi: 10.1038/ng1196-320.

Abstract

Fanconi anaemia (FA) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by a diversity of clinical symptoms including skeletal abnormalities, progressive bone marrow failure and a marked predisposition to cancer. FA cells exhibit chromosomal instability and hyper-responsiveness to the clastogenic and cytotoxic effects of bifunctional alkylating (cross-linking) agents, such as diepoxybutane (DEB) and mitomycin C (MMC). Five complementation groups (A-E) have been distinguished on the basis of somatic cell hybridization experiments, with group FA-A accounting for over 65% of the cases analysed. A cDNA for the group C gene (FAC) was reported and localized to chromosome 9q22.3 (ref.8). Genetic map positions were recently reported for two more FA genes, FAA (16q24.3) and FAD (3p22-26). Here we report the isolation of a cDNA representing the FAA gene, following an expression cloning method similar to the one used to clone the FAC gene. The 5.5-kb cDNA has an open reading frame of 4,368 nucleotides. In contrast to the 63-kD cytosolic protein encoded by the FAC gene, the predicted FAA protein (M(r) 162, 752) contains two overlapping bipartite nuclear localization signals and a partial leucine zipper consensus, which are suggestive of a nuclear localization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Base Sequence
  • Blotting, Northern
  • Cell Cycle Proteins*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cloning, Molecular / methods*
  • DNA, Complementary
  • DNA-Binding Proteins*
  • Fanconi Anemia / genetics*
  • Fanconi Anemia / pathology
  • Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group C Protein
  • Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group Proteins
  • Gene Expression
  • Genetic Complementation Test
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation
  • Nuclear Proteins*
  • Open Reading Frames
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • Proteins / genetics*
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • DNA, Complementary
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • FANCC protein, human
  • Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group C Protein
  • Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Proteins

Associated data

  • GENBANK/X99226