title: Maintenance of genome stability by Fanconi anemia proteins.
abstract: Persistent dysregulation of the DNA damage response and repair in cells causes genomic instability. The resulting genetic changes permit alterations in growth and proliferation observed in virtually all cancers. However, an unstable genome can serve as a double-edged sword by providing survival advantages in the ability to evade checkpoint signaling, but also creating vulnerabilities through dependency on alternative genomic maintenance factors. The Fanconi anemia pathway comprises an intricate network of DNA damage signaling and repair that are critical for protection against genomic instability. The importance of this pathway is underlined by the severity of the cancer predisposing syndrome Fanconi anemia which can be caused by biallelic mutations in any one of the 21 genes known thus far. This review delineates the roles of the Fanconi anemia pathway and the molecular actions of Fanconi anemia proteins in confronting replicative, oxidative, and mitotic stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Gautier Building Room 311, 1011 NW 15th Street, Miami, FL 33136 USA.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palovcak
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Gautier Building Room 311, 1011 NW 15th Street, Miami, FL 33136 USA.
authors.forename: Wenjun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Gautier Building Room 311, 1011 NW 15th Street, Miami, FL 33136 USA.
authors.forename: Fenghua
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Gautier Building Room 311, 1011 NW 15th Street, Miami, FL 33136 USA.
authors.forename: Yanbin
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7263-5510
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
keywords: DNA damage response; DNA repair; FANCA; Fanconi anemia; Genome instability