Cross-links between Fanconi anaemia and BRCA2.
Fanconi anaemia (FA) is a rare cancer-prone syndrome associated with a defect in the repair of DNA cross-links. Six genes involved in FA have been previously cloned and characterised. Now the two remaining subtypes (FA-B and FA-D1) have been shown by Howlett et al. to be associated with mutations in BRCA2 and to express truncated BRCA2 proteins. Their results suggest that the six cloned FA genes are linked with BRCA2 in a common pathway. Here Steve West discusses some of the implications of these findings.
West
Stephen C
SC
Cancer Research UK, London Research Institute, Clare Hall Laboratories, South Mimms, Hertfordshire EN6 3LD, UK. stephen.west@cancer.org.uk
D024682:BRCA2 Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005199:Fanconi Anemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans
D024682:BRCA2 Protein