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Genetic inactivation of FAAP100 causes Fanconi anemia due to disruption of the monoubiquitin ligase core complex
Julia Kuehl, … , Yanbin Zhang, Detlev Schindler
Julia Kuehl, … , Yanbin Zhang, Detlev Schindler
Published April 15, 2025
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2025;135(11):e187323. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI187323.
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Research Article Cell biology Genetics

Genetic inactivation of FAAP100 causes Fanconi anemia due to disruption of the monoubiquitin ligase core complex

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Abstract

The Fanconi anemia/breast cancer (FA/BRCA) DNA repair network promotes the removal of DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICLs) to counteract their devastating consequences, including oncogenesis. Network signaling is initiated by the FA core complex, which consists of 7 authentic FA proteins and an FA-associated protein, FAAP100, with incompletely characterized roles and unknown disease associations. Upon activation, the FA core complex functions as a multiprotein E3 ubiquitin ligase centered on its catalytic module, the FANCB-FANCL-FAAP100 (BLP100) subcomplex, for FANCD2 and FANCI monoubiquitylation. Here, we identified a homozygous variant in FAAP100, c.1642A>C, predicting p.(T542P), in a fetus with malformations suggestive of FA. The mutation caused sensitivity to ICL-inducing agents in cells from the affected individual and genetically engineered, FAAP100-inactivated human, avian, zebrafish, and mouse cells. All FAAP100-deficient cell types were rescued by ectopic expression of WT FAAP100, but not FAAP100T542P. In a confirmatory animal model, customized Faap100–/– mice exhibited embryonic lethality, microsomia, malformations, and gonadal atrophy resembling mice with established FA subtypes. Mechanistically, FAAP100T542P impaired ligase activity by preventing BLP100 subcomplex formation, resulting in defective FAAP100T542P nuclear translocation and chromatin recruitment. FAAP100 dysfunction that disrupted the FA pathway and impaired genomic maintenance, together with FA-consistent human manifestations, recommends FAAP100 as a legitimate FA gene, alias FANCX.

Authors

Julia Kuehl, Yutong Xue, Fenghua Yuan, Ramanagouda Ramanagoudr-Bhojappa, Simone Pickel, Reinhard Kalb, Settara C. Chandrasekharappa, Weidong Wang, Yanbin Zhang, Detlev Schindler

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Figure 1

Origin, location, segregation, and implications of the FAAP100 variant.

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Origin, location, segregation, and implications of the FAAP100 variant.
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(A) Pedigree of a fetus with FA-suggestive phenotype (III-2, affected individual; solid and slashed circle, marked with a red arrow, ID no. 1176) and family. Squares denote males; circles denote females. Genotyped individuals of the core family are indicated by an asterisk, unassessed genotypes by a question mark, and proven or obligate heterozygotes by half-filled symbols. (B) Five FA (prefix FANC) and FA-associated (prefix FAAP) genes in major autozygous regions (black blocks) on 3 different chromosomes (Chr) in the affected III-2 (1176) are shown. (C) Sanger electropherograms identified a homozygous A>C variant sequence, heterozygous sequence, or WT sequence at FAAP100 position c.1624 (highlighted by a red frame), predicting p.(T542P), in relatives of the core family as indicated. (D) Cell-cycle analysis of cultured amniotic fibroblasts by flow cytometry. Exemplary individual measurements. Histograms of cells from a normal control (non-FA; top), a fetus with FA (positive control; middle), and fetus III-2 (1176; bottom). Black histograms are from untreated cultures and superimposed gray or gray/red histograms are from cultures exposed to MMC (10 ng/mL, 48 hours), shown individually in Supplemental Figure 1C. The percentage of cells in G2 phase is indicated. Red coloring and arrows denote an increased G2 compartment size. Variability and significance of G2 phase arrest in repeated measurements are shown in Supplemental Figure 4A. (E) Titration experiments show reduced levels of FAAP100 protein in FAAP100T542P-mutant 1176 cells from affected III-2 cells (approximately 3 steps of 1:3 dilution each lower than in non-FA cells). Reduced levels of FANCL are also suggested in 1176 cells (approximately 2 steps of 1:3 dilution lower than in non-FA cells). Wedges represent dilutions at the ratios indicated above the blots. FA-A, cells from an individual with FA, subtype A. Vinculin was used as a loading control.

Copyright © 2025 American Society for Clinical Investigation
ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)

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