PUBLICATION

Loss of the homologous recombination gene rad51 leads to Fanconi anemia-like symptoms in zebrafish.

Authors
Botthof, J.G., Bielczyk-Maczyńska, E., Ferreira, L., Cvejic, A.
ID
ZDB-PUB-170518-5
Date
2017
Source
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America   114(22): E4452-E4461 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Keywords
Fanconi anemia, cytokine effects, hematopoiesis, inflammation, stem cells
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Cytokines/metabolism
  • DNA Damage/genetics
  • Fanconi Anemia/genetics*
  • Fanconi Anemia/metabolism*
  • Fanconi Anemia/physiopathology
  • Hematopoiesis/genetics
  • Inflammation/genetics
  • Loss of Function Mutation/genetics*
  • Loss of Function Mutation/physiology
  • Rad51 Recombinase/genetics*
  • Rad51 Recombinase/metabolism
  • Stem Cells
  • Zebrafish/genetics*
  • Zebrafish/metabolism
PubMed
28512217 Full text @ Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
Abstract
RAD51 is an indispensable homologous recombination protein, necessary for strand invasion and crossing over. It has recently been designated as a Fanconi anemia (FA) gene, following the discovery of two patients carrying dominant-negative mutations. FA is a hereditary DNA-repair disorder characterized by various congenital abnormalities, progressive bone marrow failure, and cancer predisposition. In this report, we describe a viable vertebrate model of RAD51 loss. Zebrafish rad51 loss-of-function mutants developed key features of FA, including hypocellular kidney marrow, sensitivity to cross-linking agents, and decreased size. We show that some of these symptoms stem from both decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis of embryonic hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Comutation of p53 was able to rescue the hematopoietic defects seen in the single mutants, but led to tumor development. We further demonstrate that prolonged inflammatory stress can exacerbate the hematological impairment, leading to an additional decrease in kidney marrow cell numbers. These findings strengthen the assignment of RAD51 as a Fanconi gene and provide more evidence for the notion that aberrant p53 signaling during embryogenesis leads to the hematological defects seen later in life in FA. Further research on this zebrafish FA model will lead to a deeper understanding of the molecular basis of bone marrow failure in FA and the cellular role of RAD51.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping