The Fanconi anemia core complex associates with chromatin during S phase

Phosphorylation of FANCD2 Inhibits the FANCD2/FANCI Complex and Suppresses the Fanconi Anemia Pathway in the Absence of DNA Damage

Interstrand crosslinks (ICLs) of the DNA helix are a deleterious form of DNA damage. ICLs can be repaired by the Fanconi anemia pathway. At the center of the pathway is the FANCD2/FANCI complex, recruitment of which to DNA is a critical step for repair. After recruitment, monoubiquitination of both FANCD2 and FANCI leads to their retention on chromatin, ensuring subsequent repair. However, regulation of recruitment is poorly understood. Here, we report a cluster of phosphosites on FANCD2 whose phosphorylation by CK2 inhibits both FANCD2 recruitment to ICLs and its monoubiquitination in vitro and in vivo. We have found that phosphorylated FANCD2 possesses reduced DNA binding activity, explaining the previous observations. Thus, we describe a regulatory mechanism operating as a molecular switch, where in the absence of DNA damage, the FANCD2/FANCI complex is prevented from loading onto DNA, effectively suppressing the FA pathway.

Xom induces proteolysis of β-catenin through GSK3β-mediated pathway

The dorsal cell fate determination factor β-catenin and its antagonist, the ventral cell fate determination factor Xom, are expressed and distributed in a polarized fashion during early vertebrate embryogenesis. Ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis has been shown to control the abundance of both β-catenin and Xom. However, the mechanism of ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis in regulating dorsoventral patterning remains largely unclear. Our current study shows that Xom induces proteolysis of β-catenin through GSK3-mediated phosphorylation of Ser33/37 of β-catenin. Our findings reveal a novel pathway that regulates β-catenin stability, and suggest, for the first time, a critical function of ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis in balancing the integration of dorsal-ventral signals and the polarized distribution of β-catenin and Xom during dorsoventral axis formation.

Mechanisms of DNA damage, repair, and mutagenesis

Living organisms are continuously exposed to a myriad of DNA damaging agents that can impact health and modulate disease-states. However, robust DNA repair and damage-bypass mechanisms faithfully protect the DNA by either removing or tolerating the damage to ensure an overall survival. Deviations in this fine-tuning are known to destabilize cellular metabolic homeostasis, as exemplified in diverse cancers where disruption or deregulation of DNA repair pathways results in genome instability. Because routinely used biological, physical and chemical agents impact human health, testing their genotoxicity and regulating their use have become important. In this introductory review, we will delineate mechanisms of DNA damage and the counteracting repair/tolerance pathways to provide insights into the molecular basis of genotoxicity in cells that lays the foundation for subsequent articles in this issue. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 58:235-263, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

FANCI Regulates Recruitment of the FA Core Complex at Sites of DNA Damage Independently of FANCD2

The Fanconi anemia (FA)-BRCA pathway mediates repair of DNA interstrand crosslinks. The FA core complex, a multi-subunit ubiquitin ligase, participates in the detection of DNA lesions and monoubiquitinates two downstream FA proteins, FANCD2 and FANCI (or the ID complex). However, the regulation of the FA core complex itself is poorly understood. Here we show that the FA core complex proteins are recruited to sites of DNA damage and form nuclear foci in S and G2 phases of the cell cycle. ATR kinase activity, an intact FA core complex and FANCM-FAAP24 were crucial for this recruitment. Surprisingly, FANCI, but not its partner FANCD2, was needed for efficient FA core complex foci formation. Monoubiquitination or ATR-dependent phosphorylation of FANCI were not required for the FA core complex recruitment, but FANCI deubiquitination by USP1 was. Additionally, BRCA1 was required for efficient FA core complex foci formation. These findings indicate that FANCI functions upstream of FA core complex recruitment independently of FANCD2, and alter the current view of the FA-BRCA pathway.

Fanconi anemia is a genetic disease characterized by bone marrow failure, congenital malformations and cancer predisposition. Cells derived from Fanconi anemia patients have a dysfunctional FA-BRCA pathway and are deficient in the repair of a specific form of DNA damage, DNA interstrand-crosslinks, that are induced by certain chemotherapeutic drugs. Therefore, the study of FA-BRCA pathway regulation is essential for developing new treatments for Fanconi anemia patients and cancer patients in general. One of the first steps in the pathway is the detection of DNA lesions by the FA core complex. We have optimized a method to visualize the recruitment of the FA core complex to sites of DNA damage and, for the first time, explored how this process occurs. We have uncovered several factors that are required for this recruitment. Among them is a FA core complex substrate, FANCI. We report that non-phosphorylated FANCI, previously believed to be an inactive form, has an important role in the recruitment of the FA core complex and DNA interstrand-crosslink repair. Our findings change the current view of the FA-BRCA pathway and have implications for potential clinical strategies aimed at activating or inhibiting the FA-BRCA pathway.

Defective FANCI binding by a fanconi anemia-related FANCD2 mutant

FANCD2 is a product of one of the genes associated with Fanconi anemia (FA), a rare recessive disease characterized by bone marrow failure, skeletal malformations, developmental defects, and cancer predisposition. FANCD2 forms a complex with FANCI (ID complex) and is monoubiquitinated, which facilitates the downstream interstrand crosslink (ICL) repair steps, such as ICL unhooking and nucleolytic end resection. In the present study, we focused on the chicken FANCD2 (cFANCD2) mutant harboring the Leu234 to Arg (L234R) substitution. cFANCD2 L234R corresponds to the human FANCD2 L231R mutation identified in an FA patient. We found that cFANCD2 L234R did not complement the defective ICL repair in FANCD2^−/− DT40 cells. Purified cFANCD2 L234R did not bind to chicken FANCI, and its monoubiquitination was significantly deficient, probably due to the abnormal ID complex formation. In addition, the histone chaperone activity of cFANCD2 L234R was also defective. These findings may explain some aspects of Fanconi anemia pathogenesis by a FANCD2 missense mutation.

Fanconi anemia proteins and their interacting partners: a molecular puzzle

In recent years, Fanconi anemia (FA) has been the subject of intense investigations, primarily in the DNA repair research field. Many discoveries have led to the notion of a canonical pathway, termed the FA pathway, where all FA proteins function sequentially in different protein complexes to repair DNA cross-link damages. Although a detailed architecture of this DNA cross-link repair pathway is emerging, the question of how a defective DNA cross-link repair process translates into the disease phenotype is unresolved. Other areas of research including oxidative metabolism, cell cycle progression, apoptosis, and transcriptional regulation have been studied in the context of FA, and some of these areas were investigated before the fervent enthusiasm in the DNA repair field. These other molecular mechanisms may also play an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease. In addition, several FA-interacting proteins have been identified with roles in these “other” nonrepair molecular functions. Thus, the goal of this paper is to revisit old ideas and to discuss protein-protein interactions related to other FA-related molecular functions to try to give the reader a wider perspective of the FA molecular puzzle.

Rescue of replication failure by Fanconi anaemia proteins

Chromosomal aberrations are often associated with incomplete genome duplication, for instance at common fragile sites, or as a consequence of chemical alterations in the DNA template that block replication forks. Studies of the cancer-prone disease Fanconi anaemia (FA) have provided important insights into the resolution of replication problems. The repair of interstrand DNA crosslinks induced by chemotherapy drugs is coupled with DNA replication and controlled by FA proteins. We discuss here the recent discovery of new FA-associated proteins and the development of new tractable repair systems that have dramatically improved our understanding of crosslink repair. We focus also on how FA proteins protect against replication failure in the context of fragile sites and on the identification of reactive metabolites that account for the development of Fanconi anaemia symptoms.

The Fanconi anemia pathway and ICL repair: implications for cancer therapy

Fanconi anemia (FA) is an inherited disease caused by mutations in at least 13 genes and characterized by genomic instability. In addition to displaying strikingly heterogenous clinical phenotypes, FA patients are exquisitely sensitive to treatments with crosslinking agents that create interstrand crosslinks (ICL). In contrast to bacteria and yeast, in which ICLs are repaired through replication-dependent and -independent mechanisms, it is thought that ICLs are repaired primarily during DNA replication in vertebrates. However, recent data indicate that replication-independent ICL repair also operates in vertebrates. While the precise role of the FA pathway in ICL repair remains elusive, increasing evidence suggests that FA proteins function at different steps in the sensing, recognition and processing of ICLs, as well as in signaling from these very toxic lesions, which can be generated by a wide variety of cancer chemotherapeutic drugs. Here, we discuss some of the recent findings that have shed light on the role of the FA pathway in ICL repair, with special emphasis on the implications of these findings for cancer therapy since disruption of FA genes have been associated with cancer predisposition.

Physical and functional crosstalk between Fanconi anemia core components and the GINS replication complex

Fanconi anemia (FA) is an inherited disease characterized by bone marrow failure, increased cancer risk and hypersensitivity to DNA cross-linking agents, implying a role for this pathway in the maintenance of genomic stability. The central player of the FA pathway is the multi-subunit E3 ubiquitin ligase complex activated through a replication- and DNA damage-dependent mechanism. A consequence of the activation of the complex is the monoubiquitylation of FANCD2 and FANCI, late term effectors in the maintenance of genome integrity. The details regarding the coordination of the FA-dependent response and the DNA replication process are still mostly unknown. We found, by yeast two-hybrid assay and co-immunoprecipitation in human cells, that the core complex subunit FANCF physically interacts with PSF2, a member of the GINS complex essential for both the initiation and elongation steps of DNA replication. In HeLa cells depleted for PSF2, we observed a decreased binding to chromatin of the FA core complex, suggesting that the GINS complex may have a role in either loading or stabilizing the FA core complex onto chromatin. Consistently, GINS and core complex bind chromatin contemporarily upon origin firing and PSF2 depletion sensitizes cells to DNA cross-linking agents. However, depletion of PSF2 is not sufficient to reduce monoubiquitylation of FANCD2 or its localization to nuclear foci following DNA damage. Our results suggest a novel crosstalk between DNA replication and the FA pathway.

Role of homologous recombination in DNA interstrand crosslink repair

Homologous recombination repair (HRR) encompasses mechanisms that employ homologous DNA sequences as templates for repair or tolerance of a wide range of DNA lesions that inhibit DNA replication in S phase. Arguably the most imposing of these DNA lesions is that of the interstrand crosslink (ICL), consisting of a covalently attached chemical bridge between opposing DNA strands. ICL repair requires the coordinated activities of HRR and a number of proteins from other DNA repair and damage response systems, including nucleotide excision repair, base excision repair, mismatch repair, and translesion DNA synthesis (TLS). Interestingly, different organisms favor alternative methods of HRR in the ICL repair process. E. coli perform ICL repair using a homology-driven damage bypass mechanism analogous to daughter strand gap repair. Eukaryotes from yeast to humans initiate ICL repair primarily during DNA replication, relying on HRR activity to restart broken replication forks associated with double-strand break intermediates induced by nucleolytic activities of other excision repair factors. Higher eukaryotes also employ several additional factors, including members of the Fanconi anemia damage-response network, which further promote replication-associated ICL repair through the activation and coordination of various DNA excision repair, TLS, and HRR proteins. This review focuses on the proteins and general mechanisms of HRR associated with ICL repair in different model organisms.

FANCM connects the genome instability disorders Bloom's Syndrome and Fanconi Anemia

Fanconi Anemia (FA) and Bloom's Syndrome (BS) are genetic disorders characterized by overlapping phenotypes, including aberrant DNA repair and cancer predisposition. Here, we show that the FANCM gene product, FANCM protein, links FA and BS by acting as a protein anchor and bridge that targets key components of the FA and BS pathways to stalled replication forks, thus linking multiple components that are necessary for efficient DNA repair. Two highly conserved protein:protein interaction motifs in FANCM, designated MM1 and MM2, were identified. MM1 interacts with the FA core complex by binding to FANCF, whereas MM2 interacts with RM1 and topoisomerase IIIalpha, components of the BS complex. The MM1 and MM2 motifs were independently required to activate the FA and BS pathways. Moreover, a common phenotype of BS and FA cells-an elevated frequency of sister chromatid exchanges-was due to a loss of interaction of the two complexes through FANCM.

The role of the Fanconi anemia network in the response to DNA replication stress

Fanconi anemia is a genetically heterogeneous disorder associated with chromosome instability and a highly elevated risk for developing cancer. The mutated genes encode proteins involved in the cellular response to DNA replication stress. Fanconi anemia proteins are extensively connected with DNA caretaker proteins, and appear to function as a hub for the coordination of DNA repair with DNA replication and cell cycle progression. At a molecular level, however, the raison d'être of Fanconi anemia proteins still remains largely elusive. The thirteen Fanconi anemia proteins identified to date have not been embraced into a single and defined biological process. To help put the Fanconi anemia puzzle into perspective, we begin this review with a summary of the strategies employed by prokaryotes and eukaryotes to tolerate obstacles to the progression of replication forks. We then summarize what we know about Fanconi anemia with an emphasis on biochemical aspects, and discuss how the Fanconi anemia network, a late acquisition in evolution, may function to permit the faithful and complete duplication of our very large vertebrate chromosomes.

Functional interaction between the Fanconi Anemia D2 protein and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) via a conserved putative PCNA interaction motif

Fanconi Anemia (FA) is a rare recessive disease characterized by congenital abnormalities, bone marrow failure, and cancer susceptibility. The FA proteins and the familial breast cancer susceptibility gene products, BRCA1 and FANCD1/BRCA2, function cooperatively in the FA-BRCA pathway to repair damaged DNA and to prevent cellular transformation. Activation of this pathway occurs via the mono-ubiquitination of the FANCD2 protein, targeting it to nuclear foci where it co-localizes with FANCD1/BRCA2, RAD51, and PCNA. The regulation of the mono-ubiquitination of FANCD2, as well as its function in DNA repair remain poorly understood. In this study, we have further characterized the interaction between the FANCD2 and PCNA proteins. We have identified a highly conserved, putative FANCD2 PCNA interaction motif (PIP-box), and demonstrate that mutation of this motif disrupts FANCD2-PCNA binding and precludes the mono-ubiquitination of FANCD2. Consequently, the FANCD2 PIP-box mutant protein fails to correct the mitomycin C hypersensitivity of FA-D2 patient cells. Our results suggest that PCNA may function as a molecular platform to facilitate the mono-ubiquitination of FANCD2 and activation of the FA-BRCA pathway.

Cellular and molecular consequences of defective Fanconi anemia proteins in replication-coupled DNA repair: mechanistic insights

The Fanconi anemia (FA) molecular network consists of 15 "FANC" proteins, of which 13 are associated with mutations in patients with this cancer-prone chromosome instability disorder. Whereas historically the common phenotype associated with FA mutations is marked sensitivity to DNA interstrand crosslinking agents, the literature supports a more global role for FANC proteins in coping with diverse stresses encountered by replicative polymerases. We have attempted to reconcile and integrate numerous observations into a model in which FANC proteins coordinate the following physiological events during DNA crosslink repair: (a) activating a FANCM-ATR-dependent S-phase checkpoint, (b) mediating enzymatic replication-fork breakage and crosslink unhooking, (c) filling the resulting gap by translesion synthesis (TLS) by error-prone polymerase(s), and (d) restoring the resulting one-ended double-strand break by homologous recombination repair (HRR). The FANC core subcomplex (FANCA, B, C, E, F, G, L, FAAP100) promotes TLS for both crosslink and non-crosslink damage such as spontaneous oxidative base damage, UV-C photoproducts, and alkylated bases. TLS likely helps prevent stalled replication forks from breaking, thereby maintaining chromosome continuity. Diverse DNA damages and replication inhibitors result in monoubiquitination of the FANCD2-FANCI complex by the FANCL ubiquitin ligase activity of the core subcomplex upon its recruitment to chromatin by the FANCM-FAAP24 heterodimeric translocase. We speculate that this translocase activity acts as the primary damage sensor and helps remodel blocked replication forks to facilitate checkpoint activation and repair. Monoubiquitination of FANCD2-FANCI is needed for promoting HRR, in which the FANCD1/BRCA2 and FANCN/PALB2 proteins act at an early step. We conclude that the core subcomplex is required for both TLS and HRR occurring separately for non-crosslink damages and for both events during crosslink repair. The FANCJ/BRIP1/BACH1 helicase functions in association with BRCA1 and may remove structural barriers to replication, such as guanine quadruplex structures, and/or assist in crosslink unhooking.

FANCI protein binds to DNA and interacts with FANCD2 to recognize branched structures

In this study, we report that the purified wild-type FANCI (Fanconi anemia complementation group I) protein directly binds to a variety of DNA substrates. The DNA binding domain roughly encompasses residues 200–1000, as suggested by the truncation study. When co-expressed in insect cells, a small fraction of FANCI forms a stable complex with FANCD2 (Fanconi anemia complementation group D2). Intriguingly, the purified FANCI-FANCD2 complex preferentially binds to the branched DNA structures when compared with either FANCI or FANCD2 alone. Co-immunoprecipitation with purified proteins indicates that FANCI interacts with FANCD2 through its C-terminal amino acid 1001–1328 fragment. Although the C terminus of FANCI is dispensable for direct DNA binding, it seems to be involved in the regulation of DNA binding activity. This notion is further enhanced by two C-terminal point mutations, R1285Q and D1301A, which showed differentiated DNA binding activity. We also demonstrate that FANCI forms discrete nuclear foci in HeLa cells in the absence or presence of exogenous DNA damage. The FANCI foci are colocalized perfectly with FANCD2 and partially with proliferating cell nuclear antigen irrespective of mitomycin C treatment. An increased number of FANCI foci form and become resistant to Triton X extraction in response to mitomycin C treatment. Our data suggest that the FANCI-FANCD2 complex may participate in repair of damaged replication forks through its preferential recognition of branched structures.

ATR-dependent phosphorylation of FANCA on serine 1449 after DNA damage is important for FA pathway function

Previous work has shown several proteins defective in Fanconi anemia (FA) are phosphorylated in a functionally critical manner. FANCA is phosphorylated after DNA damage and localized to chromatin, but the site and significance of this phosphorylation are unknown. Mass spectrometry of FANCA revealed one phosphopeptide, phosphorylated on serine 1449. Serine 1449 phosphorylation was induced after DNA damage but not during S phase, in contrast to other posttranslational modifications of FA proteins. Furthermore, the S1449A mutant failed to completely correct a variety of FA-associated phenotypes. The DNA damage response is coordinated by phosphorylation events initiated by apical kinases ATM (ataxia telangectasia mutated) and ATR (ATM and Rad3-related), and ATR is essential for proper FA pathway function. Serine 1449 is in a consensus ATM/ATR site, phosphorylation in vivo is dependent on ATR, and ATR phosphorylated FANCA on serine 1449 in vitro. Phosphorylation of FANCA on serine 1449 is a DNA damage-specific event that is downstream of ATR and is functionally important in the FA pathway.

Fanconi anemia proteins stabilize replication forks

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a recessive genetic disorder characterized by hypersensitivity to crosslinking agents that has been attributed to defects in DNA repair and/or replication. FANCD2 and the FA core complex bind to chromatin during DNA replication; however, the role of FA proteins during replication is unknown. Using Xenopus cell-free extracts, we show that FANCL depletion results in defective DNA replication restart following treatment with camptothecin, a drug that results in DSBs during DNA replication. This defect is more pronounced following treatment with mitomycin C, presumably because of an additional role of the FA pathway in DNA crosslink repair. Moreover, we show that chromatin binding of FA core complex proteins during DNA replication follows origin assembly and origin firing and is dependent on the binding of RPA to ssDNA while FANCD2 additionally requires ATR, consistent with FA proteins acting at replication forks. Together, our data suggest that FA proteins play a role in replication restart at collapsed replication forks.

Rapid induction of chromatin-associated DNA mismatch repair proteins after MNNG treatment

Treatment with low concentrations of monofunctional alkylating agents induces a G2 arrest only after the second round of DNA synthesis in mammalian cells and requires a proficient mismatch repair (MMR) pathway. Here, we have investigated rapid alkylation-induced recruitment of DNA repair proteins to chromosomal DNA within synchronized populations of MMR proficient cells (HeLa MR) after N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) treatment. Within the first hour, the concentrations of MutS alpha and PCNA increase well beyond their constitutive chromosomally bound levels and MutL alpha is newly recruited to the chromatin-bound MutS alpha. Remarkably, immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrate rapid association of these proteins on the alkylation-damaged chromatin, even when DNA replication is completely blocked. The extent of association of PCNA and MMR proteins on the chromatin is dependent upon the concentration of MNNG and on the specific type of replication block. A subpopulation of the MutS alpha-associated PCNA also becomes monoubiquitinated, a known requirement for PCNA to interact with translesion synthesis (TLS) polymerases. In addition, chromatin-bound SMC1 and NBS1 proteins, associated with DNA double-strand-breaks (DSBs), become phosphorylated within 1-2h of exposure to MNNG. However, these activated proteins are not co-localized on the chromatin with MutS alpha in response to MNNG exposure. PCNA, MutS alpha/MutL alpha and activated SMC1/NBS1 remain chromatin-bound for at least 6-8h after alkylation damage. Thus, cells that are exposed to low levels of alkylation treatment undergo rapid recruitment to and/or activation of key proteins already on the chromatin without the requirement for DNA replication, apparently via different DNA-damage signaling pathways.

Deficient RPS19 protein production induces cell cycle arrest in erythroid progenitor cells

The gene encoding ribosomal protein S19 (RPS19) is one of the responsible genes for Diamond-Blackfan anaemia (DBA), a congenital erythroblastopenia. Although haplo-insufficiency of RPS19 has been suggested to be the onset mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of DBA, the sequential mechanism has not been elucidated. In order to analyse the consequences of the missense mutation of RPS19 specific for DBA patients, we made mutated RPS19 expression vectors. Twelve C-terminally Flag-tagged missense mutants were exogenously expressed from retroviral vectors and analysed by Western blot analysis and flow cytometry. When these 12 mutants were expressed in the erythro-leukaemic cell lines K562 and human bone marrow CD34(+) cells, almost all of the mutant proteins (except for G120R) were unstable, and the levels of mutated RPS19 protein were significantly low. To address the effect of deficient RPS19 expression on cell proliferation, RPS19 was downregulated by siRNA. Repressive expression of RPS19 in human CD34(+) cells produced an elevated number of cells at G0 and induced erythroid progenitor-specific defects in BM cells. These results suggest that abnormal ribosomal biogenesis causes inadequate cell cycle arrest in haematopoietic progenitors, and that, subsequently, erythroid progenitors are specifically hampered. These in vitro phenotypes of genetically manipulated CD34(+) cells mimic DBA pathogenesis.

Tip60 is required for DNA interstrand cross-link repair in the Fanconi anemia pathway

The disease Fanconi anemia is a genome instability syndrome characterized by cellular sensitivity to DNA interstrand cross-linking agents, manifest by decreased cellular survival and chromosomal aberrations after such treatment. There are at least 13 proteins acting in the pathway, with the FANCD2 protein apparently functioning as a late term effecter in the maintenance of genome stability. We find that the chromatin remodeling protein, Tip60, interacts directly with the FANCD2 protein in a yeast two-hybrid system. This interaction has been confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation and co-localization using both endogenous and epitope-tagged FANCD2 and Tip60 from human cells. The observation of decreased cellular survival after exposure to mitomycin C in normal fibroblasts depleted for Tip60 indicates a direct function in interstrand cross-link repair. The coincident function of Tip60 and FANCD2 in one pathway is supported by the finding that depletion of Tip60 in Fanconi anemia cells does not increase sensitivity to DNA cross-links. However, depletion of Tip60 did not reduce monoubiquitination of FANCD2 or its localization to nuclear foci following DNA damage. The observations indicate that Fanconi anemia proteins act in concert with chromatin remodeling functions to maintain genome stability after DNA cross-link damage.

UBE2T, the Fanconi anemia core complex, and FANCD2 are recruited independently to chromatin: a basis for the regulation of FANCD2 monoubiquitination

The Fanconi anemia (FA) nuclear core complex and the E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UBE2T are required for the S phase and DNA damage-restricted monoubiquitination of FANCD2. This constitutes a key step in the FA tumor suppressor pathway, and much attention has been focused on the regulation at this point. Here, we address the importance of the assembly of the FA core complex and the subcellular localization of UBE2T in the regulation of FANCD2 monoubiquitination. We establish three points. First, the stable assembly of the FA core complex can be dissociated of its ability to function as an E3 ubiquitin ligase. Second, the actual E3 ligase activity is not determined by the assembly of the FA core complex but rather by its DNA damage-induced localization to chromatin. Finally, UBE2T and FANCD2 access this subcellular fraction independently of the FA core complex. FANCD2 monoubiquitination is therefore not regulated by multiprotein complex assembly but by the formation of an active E2/E3 holoenzyme on chromatin.

Fanconi Anemia and Ubiquitination

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare recessive hereditary disease characterized clinically by congenital defects, progressive bone-marrow failure, and cancer predisposition. Cells from FA patients exhibit hypersensitivity to DNA cross-linking agents, such as mitomycin C (MMC). To date, at least 12 FA genes have been found deleted or mutated in FA cells, and 10 FA gene products form a core complex involved in FA/BRCA2 DNA repair pathway?FA pathway. The ubiquitin E3 ligase FANCL, an important factor of FA core complex, co-functions with a new ubiquitin conjugating enzyme UBE2T to catalyze the monoubiquitination of FANCD2. FANCD2-Ub binds BRCA2 to form a new complex located in chromatin foci and then take part in DNA repair process. The deubiquitylating enzyme USP1 removes the mono-ubiquitin from FANCD2-Ub following completion of the repair process, then restores the blocked cell cycle to normal order by shutting off the FA pathway. In a word, the FANCD2 activity adjusted exquisitely by ubiquitination and/or deubiquitination in vivo may co-regulate the FA pathway involving in variant DNA repair pathway.

DNA structure-induced recruitment and activation of the Fanconi anemia pathway protein FANCD2

The Fanconi anemia (FA) pathway proteins are thought to be involved in the repair of irregular DNA structures including those encountered by the moving replication fork. However, the nature of the DNA structures that recruit and activate the FA proteins is not known. Because FA proteins function within an extended network of proteins, some of which are still unknown, we recently established cell-free assays in Xenopus laevis egg extracts to deconstruct the FA pathway in a fully replication-competent context. Here we show that the central FA pathway protein, xFANCD2, is monoubiquitinated (xFANCD2-L) rapidly in the presence of linear and branched double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) structures but not single-stranded or Y-shaped DNA. xFANCD2-L associates with dsDNA structures in an FA core complex-dependent manner but independently of xATRIP, the regulatory subunit of xATR. Formation of xFANCD2-L is also triggered in response to circular dsDNA, suggesting that dsDNA ends are not required to trigger monoubiquitination of FANCD2. The induction of xFANCD2-L in response to circular dsDNA is replication and checkpoint independent. Our results provide new evidence that the FA pathway discriminates among DNA structures and demonstrate that triggering the FA pathway can be uncoupled from DNA replication and ATRIP-dependent activation.

Activation of the Fanconi Anemia/BRCA Pathway and Recombination Repair in the Cellular Response to Solar Ultraviolet Light

Recombination repair plays an important role in the processing of DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) and DNA cross-links, and has been suggested to be mediated by the activation of the Fanconi anemia (FA)/BRCA pathway. Unlike DNA damage generated by ionizing radiation or DNA cross-linking, UV light-induced DNA damage is not commonly thought to require recombination for processing, as UV light does not directly induce DSBs or DNA cross-links. To elucidate the role of recombination repair in the cellular response to UV, we studied the FA/BRCA pathway in primary skin cells exposed to solar-simulated light. UV-induced monoubiquitination of the FANCD2 protein and formation of FANCD2 nuclear foci confirmed the activation of the pathway by UV light. This was only observed when cells were irradiated during S phase and was not caused by directly UV-induced DSBs. UV-exposed cells did not exhibit FANCD2 nuclear foci once they entered mitosis or when growth-arrested. In addition, UV-induced nuclear foci of the recombination proteins, RAD51 and BRCA1, colocalized with FANCD2 foci. We suggest that in response to UV light, when nucleotide excision repair failed to repair, or when translesional DNA synthesis failed to bypass UV-induced DNA photoproducts, the FA/BRCA pathway mediates the recombination repair of replication forks stalled at DNA photoproducts as a third line of defense.

Defective mitochondrial peroxiredoxin-3 results in sensitivity to oxidative stress in Fanconi anemia

Cells from patients with Fanconi anemia (FA), an inherited disorder that includes bone marrow failure and cancer predisposition, have increased sensitivity to oxidative stress through an unknown mechanism. We demonstrate that the FA group G (FANCG) protein is found in mitochondria. Wild-type but not G546R mutant FANCG physically interacts with the mitochondrial peroxidase peroxiredoxin-3 (PRDX3). PRDX3 is deregulated in FA cells, including cleavage by a calpainlike cysteine protease and mislocalization. FA-G cells demonstrate distorted mitochondrial structures, and mitochondrial extracts have a sevenfold decrease in thioredoxin-dependent peroxidase activity. Transient overexpression of PRDX3 suppresses the sensitivity of FA-G cells to H₂O₂, and decreased PRDX3 expression increases sensitivity to mitomycin C. Cells from the FA-A and -C subtypes also have PRDX3 cleavage and decreased peroxidase activity. This study demonstrates a role for the FA proteins in mitochondria witsh sensitivity to oxidative stress resulting from diminished peroxidase activity. These defects may lead to apoptosis and the accumulation of oxidative DNA damage in bone marrow precursors.

Phosphorylation of FANCD2 on two novel sites is required for mitomycin C resistance

The Fanconi anemia (FA) pathway is a DNA damage-activated signaling pathway which regulates cellular resistance to DNA cross-linking agents. Cloned FA genes and proteins cooperate in this pathway, and monoubiquitination of FANCD2 is a critical downstream event. The cell cycle checkpoint kinase ATR is required for the efficient monoubiquitination of FANCD2, while another checkpoint kinase, ATM, directly phosphorylates FANCD2 and controls the ionizing radiation (IR)-inducible intra-S-phase checkpoint. In the present study, we identify two novel DNA damage-inducible phosphorylation sites on FANCD2, threonine 691 and serine 717. ATR phosphorylates FANCD2 on these two sites, thereby promoting FANCD2 monoubiquitination and enhancing cellular resistance to DNA cross-linking agents. Phosphorylation of the sites is required for establishment of the intra-S-phase checkpoint response. IR-inducible phosphorylation of threonine 691 and serine 717 is also dependent on ATM and is more strongly impaired when both ATM and ATR are knocked down. Threonine 691 is phosphorylated during normal S-phase progression in an ATM-dependent manner. These findings further support the functional connection of ATM/ATR kinases and FANCD2 in the DNA damage response and support a role for the FA pathway in the coordination of the S phase of the cell cycle.

Dedicated to the core: understanding the Fanconi anemia complex

The Fanconi anemia (FA) pathway consists of a unique, multi-subunit E3 ubiquitin ligase complex that is activated in a replication and DNA-damage dependent mechanism. This FA core complex possesses a putative helicase and an E3 ubiquitin ligase subunit, is assembled in both the nucleoplasm and in chromatin, and is required for the mono-ubiquitination of FANCD2, a downstream FA protein, following genotoxic stress. Clinically, absence of the FA pathway results in congenital defects, bone marrow failure, and cancer predisposition. At the cellular level, this pathway is required for chromosomal stability and cellular resistance to DNA interstrand crosslinkers (ICLs) such as mitomycin C (MMC). A general model has emerged for the FA pathway as an arm of the DNA-damage response following ICLs. This review will summarize the current understanding of the FA core complex and propose a model for its activity.

Evidence for subcomplexes in the Fanconi anemia pathway

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a genomic instability disorder, clinically characterized by congenital abnormalities, progressive bone marrow failure, and predisposition to malignancy. Cells derived from patients with FA display a marked sensitivity to DNA cross-linking agents, such as mitomycin C (MMC). This observation has led to the hypothesis that the proteins defective in FA are involved in the sensing or repair of interstrand cross-link lesions of the DNA. A nuclear complex consisting of a majority of the FA proteins plays a crucial role in this process and is required for the monoubiquitination of a downstream target, FANCD2. Two new FA genes, FANCB and FANCL, have recently been identified, and their discovery has allowed a more detailed study into the molecular architecture of the FA pathway. We demonstrate a direct interaction between FANCB and FANCL and that a complex of these proteins binds FANCA. The interaction between FANCA and FANCL is dependent on FANCB, FANCG, and FANCM, but independent of FANCC, FANCE, and FANCF. These findings provide a framework for the protein interactions that occur "upstream" in the FA pathway and suggest that besides the FA core complex different subcomplexes exist that may have specific functions other than the monoubiquitination of FANCD2.

Molecular pathogenesis of Fanconi anemia: recent progress

A rare genetic disease, Fanconi anemia (FA), now attracts broader attention from cancer biologists and basic researchers in the DNA repair and ubiquitin biology fields as well as from hematologists. FA is a chromosome instability syndrome characterized by childhood-onset aplastic anemia, cancer or leukemia susceptibility, and cellular hypersensitivity to DNA crosslinking agents. Identification of 11 genes for FA has led to progress in the molecular understanding of this disease. FA proteins, including a ubiquitin ligase (FANCL), a monoubiquitinated protein (FANCD2), a helicase (FANCJ/BACH1/BRIP1), and a breast/ovarian cancer susceptibility protein (FANCD1/BRCA2), appear to cooperate in a pathway leading to the recognition and repair of damaged DNA. Molecular interactions among FA proteins and responsible proteins for other chromosome instability syndromes (BLM, NBS1, MRE11, ATM, and ATR) have also been found. Furthermore, inactivation of FA genes has been observed in a wide variety of human cancers in the general population. These findings have broad implications for predicting the sensitivity and resistance of tumors to widely used anticancer DNA crosslinking agents (cisplatin, mitomycin C, and melphalan). Here, we summarize recent progress in the molecular biology of FA and discuss roles of the FA proteins in DNA repair and cancer biology.

The Fanconi Anemia/BRCA pathway: new faces in the crowd

Over the past few years, study of the rare inherited chromosome instability disorder, Fanconi Anemia (FA), has uncovered a novel DNA damage response pathway. Through the cooperation of multiple proteins, this pathway regulates a complicated cellular response to DNA cross-linking agents and other genotoxic stresses. In this article we review recent data identifying new components of the FA pathway that implicate it in several aspects of the DNA damage response, including the direct processing of DNA, translesion synthesis, homologous recombination, and cell cycle regulation. We also discuss new findings that explain how the FA pathway is regulated through the processes of ubiquitination and deubiquitination. We then consider the clinical implications of our current understanding of the FA pathway, particularly in the development and treatment of malignancy in heterozygous carriers of FA mutations or in patients with sporadic cancers. We consider how recent studies of p53-mediated apoptosis and loss of p53 function in models of FA may help explain the clinical features of the disease and finally present a hypothesis to account for the specificity of the FA pathway in the response to DNA cross-links.

Fanconi anemia proteins are required to prevent accumulation of replication-associated DNA double-strand breaks

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a multigene cancer susceptibility disorder characterized by cellular hypersensitivity to DNA interstrand cross-linking agents such as mitomycin C (MMC). FA proteins are suspected to function at the interface between cell cycle checkpoints, DNA repair, and DNA replication. Using replicating extracts from Xenopus eggs, we developed cell-free assays for FA proteins (xFA). Recruitment of the xFA core complex and xFANCD2 to chromatin is strictly dependent on replication initiation, even in the presence of MMC indicating specific recruitment to DNA lesions encountered by the replication machinery. The increase in xFA chromatin binding following treatment with MMC is part of a caffeine-sensitive S-phase checkpoint that is controlled by xATR. Recruitment of xFANCD2, but not xFANCA, is dependent on the xATR-xATR-interacting protein (xATRIP) complex. Immunodepletion of either xFANCA or xFANCD2 from egg extracts results in accumulation of chromosomal DNA breaks during replicative synthesis. Our results suggest coordinated chromatin recruitment of xFA proteins in response to replication-associated DNA lesions and indicate that xFA proteins function to prevent the accumulation of DNA breaks that arise during unperturbed replication.

Generation of Mouse FANCL Antibody and Analysis of FANCL Protein Expression Profile in Mouse Tissues

Fanconi anemia complementation group L (FANCL) is a novel Fanconi anemia protein, which mono-ubiquitinates FANCD2 as a ubiquitin E3 ligase, and plays a crucial role in DNA damage repair and chromosome stability maintenance. FANCL is involved in the proliferation of primordial germ cells (PGC) in early embryonic stages, and may play a role in the development of germ cells by forming a novel testis-specific network with testis-specific proteins in the adult testis. FancL cDNA sequence was cloned by RT-PCR from mouse testis total RNA, and expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3). Rabbit FANCL polyclonal antiserum was generated using the recombinant protein as the antigen. To prepare an antigen column for affinity purification of FANCL-specific antibody, recombinant His-tagged FANCL was purified by Ni(2+)-charged HiTrap Chelating HP column and coupled to an NHS-activated HiTrap column. To confirm the activity and specificity of the FANCL antibody, we constructed plasmid pCMV-HA/FANCL to transfect HEK 293T cells. Transiently expressed HA-FANCL fusion protein was analyzed by immunoblotting with both the FANCL antibody and HA monoclonal antibody. The antibody was used in Western blotting to check the expression of FANCL protein in mouse tissues. We found wide expression of FANCL in brain, muscle, heart, lung, liver, spleen, kidney, testis, ovary and uterus, indicating the functional importance of this novel protein.

Molecular Pathogenesis of Fanconi Anemia

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare inherited disorder characterized clinically by aplastic anemia, developmental defects, and a susceptibility to cancer. Eleven complementation groups have been identified (FA-A, -B, -C, -D1, -D2, -E, -F, -G, -I, -J, and -L), and the genes responsible for 9 groups (FANCA, B, C, D1, D2, E, F, G, and L) have been cloned. The proteins involved in FA act coordinately in the cellular response to DNA cross-links in a pathway that has been shown to interact physically or functionally with a variety of other proteins involved in DNA repair or cell cycle control, notably BRCA1, Rad51,ATM,ATR, and Nbs1. Considerable advances in the identification and description of proteins involved in FA have been recorded, but the precise biochemical function of the FA pathway remains elusive. As research continues to improve our understanding of FA, insight will be gained into what is a pivotal process in cancer biology.

3R coordination by Fanconi anemia proteins

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a recessive cancer prone syndrome featuring bone marrow failure and hypersensitivity to DNA crosslinks. Nine FA genes have been isolated so far. The biochemical function(s) of the FA proteins remain(s) poorly determined. However, a large consensus exists on the evidence that, to cope with DNA cross-links, a cell needs a functional FA pathway. In this review, we resume current understanding of how the FA pathway works in response to DNA damage and how it is integrated in a complex network of proteins involved in the maintenance of the genetic stability.

The vertebrate Hef ortholog is a component of the Fanconi anemia tumor-suppressor pathway

The helicase-associated endonuclease for fork-structured DNA (Hef) is an archaeabacterial protein that processes blocked replication forks. Here we have isolated the vertebrate Hef ortholog and investigated its molecular function. Disruption of this gene in chicken DT40 cells results in genomic instability and sensitivity to DNA cross-links. The similarity of this phenotype to that of cells lacking the Fanconi anemia-related (FA) tumor-suppressor genes led us to investigate whether Hef functions in this pathway. Indeed, we found a genetic interaction between the FANCC and Hef genes. In addition, Hef is a component of the FA nuclear protein complex that facilitates its DNA damage-inducible chromatin localization and the monoubiquitination of the FA protein FANCD2. Notably, Hef interacts directly with DNA structures that are intermediates in DNA replication. This discovery sheds light on the origins, regulation and molecular function of the FA tumor-suppressor pathway in the maintenance of genome stability.

Identification of multiple nuclear export sequences in Fanconi anemia group A protein that contribute to CRM1-dependent nuclear export

The Fanconi anemia (FA) pathway plays an important role in maintaining genomic stability, and defects in this pathway cause cancer susceptibility. The FA proteins have been found to function primarily in a nuclear complex, although a cytoplasmic localization and function for several FA proteins has also been reported. In this study, we investigated the possibility that FANCA, FANCC and FANCG are subjected to active export out of the nucleus. After treatment with leptomycin B, a specific inhibitor of CRM1-mediated nuclear export, the accumulation of epitope-tagged FANCA in the nucleus increased, whereas FANCC was affected to a lesser extent and FANCG showed no response. CRM1-mediated export of FANCA was further confirmed using CRM1 cotransfection, which led to a dramatic relocalization of FANCA to the cytoplasm. Five functional leucine-rich nuclear export sequences (NESs) distributed throughout the FANCA sequence were identified and characterized using an in vivo export assay. Simultaneous inactivation of three of these NESs resulted in a discrete but reproducible increase of FANCA nuclear accumulation. However, these NES mutations did not affect the ability of FANCA to complement the mitomycin C or cisplatin sensitivity of FA-A lymphoblasts. Surprisingly, mutations in the other two NESs resulted in an almost complete relocation of the protein to cytoplasm, suggesting that these motifs overlap with domains that are crucial for nuclear import. Taken together, these findings indicate that FANCA can be actively exported out of the nucleus by CRM1, revealing a new mechanism to regulate the function of the FA protein complex.

How Fanconi anemia proteins promote the four Rs: replication, recombination, repair, and recovery

The genetically complex disease Fanconi anemia (FA) comprises cancer predisposition, developmental defects, and bone marrow failure due to elevated apoptosis. The FA cellular phenotype includes universal sensitivity to DNA crosslinking damage, symptoms of oxidative stress, and reduced mutability at the X-linked HPRT gene. In this review article, we present a new heuristic molecular model that accommodates these varied features of FA cells. In our view, the FANCA, -C, and -G proteins, which are both cytoplasmic and nuclear, have an integrated dual role in which they sense and convey information about cytoplasmic oxidative stress to the nucleus, where they participate in the further assembly and functionality of the nuclear core complex (NCCFA= FANCA/B/C/E/F/G/L). In turn, NCCFA facilitates DNA replication at sites of base damage and strand breaks by performing the critical monoubiquitination of FANCD2, an event that somehow helps stabilize blocked and broken replication forks. This stabilization facilitates two kinds of processes: translesion synthesis at sites of blocking lesions (e.g., oxidative base damage), which produces point mutations by error-prone polymerases, and homologous recombination-mediated restart of broken forks, which arise spontaneously and when crosslinks are unhooked by the ERCC1-XPF endonuclease. In the absence of the critical FANCD2 monoubiquitination step, broken replication forks further lose chromatid continuity by collapsing into a configuration that is more difficult to restart through recombination and prone to aberrant repair through nonhomologous end joining. Thus, the FA regulatory pathway promotes chromosome integrity by monitoring oxidative stress and coping efficiently with the accompanying oxidative DNA damage during DNA replication.