Objective Fanconi anemia (FA) is a genetic disease characterized by bone marrow failure, malformations and cancer predisposition. Currently, there is no cure for FA and life expectancy is 29 years. In addition, FA cells are hypersensitive to DNA coss-linking agents used in chemotherapy making cancer treatment difficult. The genetic cause of FA is heterogeneous, involving at least 19 different FA genes (FANCA, B, C, D1/BRCA2, D2, E, F, G, I, J, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S/BRCA1 and T) all interacting in a common DNA repair pathway (the FA/BRCA pathway). FANCD2 ubiquitination and localization at sites of DNA damage is a key step in the activation of the FA pathway and it is used to assess its functionality. Importantly, mutations in FANCA are the most prevalent, accounting for 60-85% of FA cases. FANCA missense mutants mislocalize FANCA to the cytoplasm instead of the nucleus, thereby inactivating the FA pathway. However, FANCA mutants may retain its functionality, suggesting that correction of the subcellular mislocalization of FANCA missense mutants may be an effective way to reactivate the FA/BRCA pathway in these patients. In this application, we propose to conduct a study to develop a system to promote nuclear localization of FANCA missense mutants and evaluate its impact on the activation of the FA/BRCA pathway. This study will yield valuable information about the molecular mechanisms that determine FANCA subcellular localization and pathogenicity of the mutations. In a second part of the project, we will use an unbiased high-throughput approach to screen for drugs that can reactivate the FA/BRCA pathway in cells containing FANCA missense mutations, independently of their mechanism of action. In summary, using a combination of targeted and unbiased approaches, we aim at finding the first drug with the potential to cure FA in a large subset of patients. Personalized medicine-based therapies may be the only option to cure FA and other highly heterogeneous genetic diseases. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNAnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsmutationmedical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncologymedical and health sciencesclinical medicinehematology Keywords Fanconi anemia drug discovery missense mutations rare disease Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2015-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2015 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator UNIVERSITAT AUTONOMA DE BARCELONA Net EU contribution € 170 121,60 Address Edif a campus de la uab bellaterra cerdanyola v 08193 Cerdanyola del valles Spain See on map Region Este Cataluña Barcelona Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
