Expression of the Fanconi anemia group A gene (Fanca) during mouse embryogenesis.
About 80% of all cases of Fanconi anemia (FA) can be accounted for by complementation groups A and C. To understand the relationship between these groups, we analyzed the expression pattern of the mouse FA group-A gene (Fanca) during embryogenesis and compared it with the known pattern of the group-C gene (Fancc). Northern analysis of RNA from mouse embryos at embryonic days 7, 11, 15, and 17 showed a predominant 4.5 kb band in all stages. By in situ hybridization, Fanca transcripts were found in the whisker follicles, teeth, brain, retina, kidney, liver, and limbs. There was also stage-specific variation in Fanca expression, particularly within the developing whiskers and the brain. Some tissues known to express Fancc (eg, gut) failed to show Fanca expression. These observations show that (1) Fanca is under both tissue- and stage-specific regulation in several tissues; (2) the expression pattern of Fanca is consistent with the phenotype of the human disease; and (3) Fanca expression is not necessarily coupled to that of Fancc. The presence of distinct tissue targets for FA genes suggests that some of the variability in the clinical phenotype can be attributed to the complementation group assignment.
Departments of Molecular and Human Genetics, Biochemistry, and Medicine, The Developmental Biology Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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Abu-Issa
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Eichele
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H
Youssoufian
D000565:Ameloblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000235:genetics*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D005121:Extremities / Q000196:embryology; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D005199:Fanconi Anemia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D052217:Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group A Protein; D005326:Fetal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007668:Kidney / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010641:Phenotype; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014738:Vibrissae / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; C498471:FANCA protein, human; C120277:Fanca protein, mouse; D052217:Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group A Protein; D005326:Fetal Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011506:Proteins