Fance - Fanconi anemia, complementation group E

This gene encodes the complementation group E subunit of the multimeric Fanconi anemia (FA) nuclear complex composed of proteins encoded by over ten Fanconi anemia complementation (FANC) group genes: FANCA, FANCB, FANCC, FANCD1 (also called BRCA2), FANCD2, FANCE, FANCF, FANCG, FANCI, FANCJ (also called BRIP1), FANCL, FANCM and FANCN (also called PALB2). The FA complex is necessary for protection against DNA damage. This gene product is required for the nuclear accumulation of FANCC and provides a critical bridge between the FA complex and FANCD2. Defects in the related human gene are a cause of Fanconi anemia, a genetically heterogeneous recessive disorder characterized by cytogenetic instability, hypersensitivity to DNA crosslinking agents, increased chromosomal breakage, and defective DNA repair. Translation of this protein is initiated at a non-AUG (CUG) start codon, which is inferred from the related human gene and the notion that this protein is functionally indispensable. Multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been identified. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2009]