The Research Roundup provides an overview of the past week’s research from Mayo Medical Laboratories consultants, including featured abstracts and complete list of published studies and reviews.
In 1927, Guido Fanconi described a hereditary condition presenting panmyelopathy accompanied by short stature and hyperpigmentation, now better known as Fanconi anemia. With this discovery the genetic and molecular basis underlying Fanconi anemia has emerged as a field of great interest. Fanconi anemia signaling is crucial in the DNA damage response (DDR) to mediate the repair of damaged DNA. This has attracted a diverse range of investigators, especially those interested in aging and cancer. However, recent evidence suggests Fanconi anemia signaling also regulates functions outside the DDR, with implications for many other frontiers of research. Mayo Clinic researchers discuss the characteristics of Fanconi anemia functions and expand upon current perspectives regarding the genetics of Fanconi anemia, indicating that Fanconi anemia plays a role in a myriad of molecular and cellular processes. The study was published in Trends in Genetics.