The Fanconi anemia core complex associates with chromatin during S phase

Blood. 2005 Jan 15;105(2):759-66. doi: 10.1182/blood-2004-01-0001. Epub 2004 Jul 15.

Abstract

Fanconi anemia (FA) is an autosomal recessive disease marked by bone marrow failure, birth defects, and cancer. The FA proteins FANCA, FANCC, FANCE, FANCF, FANCG, and FANCL participate in a core complex. We previously have shown that several members of this complex bind to chromatin until mitosis and that this binding increases after DNA damage. The purpose of the present study was to determine the dynamics of complex movement between cytoplasm and nuclear compartments. Fluorescent-tagged versions of FANCA, FANCC, and FANCG colocalize in cytoplasm and nucleus, chiefly in chromatin. At the G1-S border, the FA core complex exists as foci on chromatin, progressively diffusing and migrating to the nuclear periphery and becoming completely excluded from condensed chromosomes by mitosis. Chromatin fiber analysis shows FA proteins diffusely staining along chromatin fibers during G1-S and S phase. Treatment with the DNA cross-linker mitomycin C results in a diffusion of foci and increased binding of complex proteins to chromatin, as well as diffuse and increased complex binding to chromatin fibers. These data are consistent with the idea that the FA proteins function at the level of chromatin during S phase to regulate and maintain genomic stability.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Chromatin / metabolism*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Fanconi Anemia / metabolism*
  • Fanconi Anemia / physiopathology*
  • Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group A Protein
  • Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group C Protein
  • Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group G Protein
  • Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group Proteins
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Fluorescence
  • G1 Phase / physiology
  • Genes, Reporter
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • S Phase / physiology*

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Chromatin
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • FANCA protein, human
  • FANCC protein, human
  • FANCG protein, human
  • Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group A Protein
  • Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group C Protein
  • Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group G Protein
  • Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins