Fanconi anemia C protein acts at a switch between apoptosis and necrosis in mitomycin C-induced cell death.

Deregulation of apoptosis seems to be a hallmark of the Fanconi anemia (FA) syndrome. In order to further define the role of the FA protein from complementation group C (FAC) in apoptosis, we characterized parameters modified during the mitomycin-C (MMC)-induced apoptotic program. It is shown that despite a higher level of cell death for FA compared to normal lymphoblasts after MMC treatment, FA cells do not display a marked DNA fragmentation. Furthermore, while playing a central role in MMC apoptosis of normal lymphoblasts, the activity of caspase-3-like proteases is altered in FA cells. Interestingly, the disruption of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (Deltapsi), an early event that can lead to apoptotic or to necrotic death, is accomplished similarly in FA and in normal cells. Finally, it is shown that the overexpressed FAC protein inhibited the apoptotic steps, with the exception of the decrease of the Deltapsi. Altogether, our results indicate that the FAC protein acts at a step preceding the activation of the caspases and after the modification of the Deltapsi, a decision point at which cells can be pushed toward either apoptosis or necrosis and which, consequently, regulates the balance between the two modes of cell death. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.