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Rivosecchi J, Jurikova K, Cusanelli E. Telomere-specific regulation of TERRA and its impact on telomere stability. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2024; 157:3-23. [PMID: 38088000 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2023.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
TERRA is a class of telomeric repeat-containing RNAs that are expressed from telomeres in multiple organisms. TERRA transcripts play key roles in telomere maintenance and their physiological levels are essential to maintain the integrity of telomeric DNA. Indeed, deregulated TERRA expression or its altered localization can impact telomere stability by multiple mechanisms including fueling transcription-replication conflicts, promoting resection of chromosome ends, altering the telomeric chromatin, and supporting homologous recombination. Therefore, a fine-tuned control of TERRA is important to maintain the integrity of the genome. Several studies have reported that different cell lines express substantially different levels of TERRA. Most importantly, TERRA levels markedly vary among telomeres of a given cell type, indicating the existence of telomere-specific regulatory mechanisms which may help coordinate TERRA functions. TERRA molecules contain distinct subtelomeric sequences, depending on their telomere of origin, which may instruct specific post-transcriptional modifications or mediate distinct functions. In addition, all TERRA transcripts share a repetitive G-rich sequence at their 3' end which can form DNA:RNA hybrids and fold into G-quadruplex structures. Both structures are involved in TERRA functions and can critically affect telomere stability. In this review, we examine the mechanisms controlling TERRA levels and the impact of their telomere-specific regulation on telomere stability. We compare evidence obtained in different model organisms, discussing recent advances as well as controversies in the field. Furthermore, we discuss the importance of DNA:RNA hybrids and G-quadruplex structures in the context of TERRA biology and telomere maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julieta Rivosecchi
- Laboratory of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Katarina Jurikova
- Laboratory of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy; Department of Genetics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, Mlynská dolina, 84215 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Emilio Cusanelli
- Laboratory of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy.
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2
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Carvalho Borges PC, Bouabboune C, Escandell JM, Matmati S, Coulon S, Ferreira MG. Pot1 promotes telomere DNA replication via the Stn1-Ten1 complex in fission yeast. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:12325-12336. [PMID: 37953281 PMCID: PMC10711446 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are nucleoprotein complexes that protect the chromosome-ends from eliciting DNA repair while ensuring their complete duplication. Pot1 is a subunit of telomere capping complex that binds to the G-rich overhang and inhibits the activation of DNA damage checkpoints. In this study, we explore new functions of fission yeast Pot1 by using a pot1-1 temperature sensitive mutant. We show that pot1 inactivation impairs telomere DNA replication resulting in the accumulation of ssDNA leading to the complete loss of telomeric DNA. Recruitment of Stn1 to telomeres, an auxiliary factor of DNA lagging strand synthesis, is reduced in pot1-1 mutants and overexpression of Stn1 rescues loss of telomeres and cell viability at restrictive temperature. We propose that Pot1 plays a crucial function in telomere DNA replication by recruiting Stn1-Ten1 and Polα-primase complex to telomeres via Tpz1, thus promoting lagging-strand DNA synthesis at stalled replication forks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chaïnez Bouabboune
- CNRS, INSERM, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Equipe labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Marseille, F-13009, France
| | | | - Samah Matmati
- CNRS, INSERM, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Equipe labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Marseille, F-13009, France
| | - Stéphane Coulon
- CNRS, INSERM, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Equipe labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Marseille, F-13009, France
| | - Miguel Godinho Ferreira
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, 2781-901, Portugal
- Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice (IRCAN), INSERM U1081 UMR7284 CNRS, 06107 Nice, France
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3
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Colin L, Reyes C, Berthezene J, Maestroni L, Modolo L, Toselli E, Chanard N, Schaak S, Cuvier O, Gachet Y, Coulon S, Bernard P, Tournier S. Condensin positioning at telomeres by shelterin proteins drives sister-telomere disjunction in anaphase. eLife 2023; 12:RP89812. [PMID: 37988290 PMCID: PMC10662949 DOI: 10.7554/elife.89812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The localization of condensin along chromosomes is crucial for their accurate segregation in anaphase. Condensin is enriched at telomeres but how and for what purpose had remained elusive. Here, we show that fission yeast condensin accumulates at telomere repeats through the balancing acts of Taz1, a core component of the shelterin complex that ensures telomeric functions, and Mit1, a nucleosome remodeler associated with shelterin. We further show that condensin takes part in sister-telomere separation in anaphase, and that this event can be uncoupled from the prior separation of chromosome arms, implying a telomere-specific separation mechanism. Consistent with a cis-acting process, increasing or decreasing condensin occupancy specifically at telomeres modifies accordingly the efficiency of their separation in anaphase. Genetic evidence suggests that condensin promotes sister-telomere separation by counteracting cohesin. Thus, our results reveal a shelterin-based mechanism that enriches condensin at telomeres to drive in cis their separation during mitosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léonard Colin
- CNRS - Laboratory of Biology and Modelling of the CellLyonFrance
- ENS de Lyon, Université Lyon, site Jacques MonodLyonFrance
| | - Celine Reyes
- MCD, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPSToulouseFrance
| | - Julien Berthezene
- MCD, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPSToulouseFrance
| | - Laetitia Maestroni
- CNRS, INSERM, Aix Marseille Université, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Equipe labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le CancerMarseilleFrance
| | - Laurent Modolo
- CNRS - Laboratory of Biology and Modelling of the CellLyonFrance
- ENS de Lyon, Université Lyon, site Jacques MonodLyonFrance
| | - Esther Toselli
- CNRS - Laboratory of Biology and Modelling of the CellLyonFrance
- ENS de Lyon, Université Lyon, site Jacques MonodLyonFrance
| | - Nicolas Chanard
- MCD, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPSToulouseFrance
- CBI, MCD-UMR5077, CNRS, Chromatin Dynamics TeamToulouseFrance
| | - Stephane Schaak
- MCD, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPSToulouseFrance
- CBI, MCD-UMR5077, CNRS, Chromatin Dynamics TeamToulouseFrance
| | - Olivier Cuvier
- MCD, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPSToulouseFrance
- CBI, MCD-UMR5077, CNRS, Chromatin Dynamics TeamToulouseFrance
| | - Yannick Gachet
- MCD, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPSToulouseFrance
| | - Stephane Coulon
- CNRS, INSERM, Aix Marseille Université, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Equipe labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le CancerMarseilleFrance
| | - Pascal Bernard
- CNRS - Laboratory of Biology and Modelling of the CellLyonFrance
- ENS de Lyon, Université Lyon, site Jacques MonodLyonFrance
| | - Sylvie Tournier
- MCD, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPSToulouseFrance
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4
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Vaurs M, Naiman K, Bouabboune C, Rai S, Ptasińska K, Rives M, Matmati S, Carr AM, Géli V, Coulon S. Stn1-Ten1 and Taz1 independently promote replication of subtelomeric fragile sequences in fission yeast. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112537. [PMID: 37243596 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Efficient replication of terminal DNA is crucial to maintain telomere stability. In fission yeast, Taz1 and the Stn1-Ten1 (ST) complex play prominent roles in DNA-ends replication. However, their function remains elusive. Here, we have analyzed genome-wide replication and show that ST does not affect genome-wide replication but is crucial for the efficient replication of a subtelomeric region called STE3-2. We further show that, when ST function is compromised, a homologous recombination (HR)-based fork restart mechanism becomes necessary for STE3-2 stability. While both Taz1 and Stn1 bind to STE3-2, we find that the STE3-2 replication function of ST is independent of Taz1 but relies on its association with the shelterin proteins Pot1-Tpz1-Poz1. Finally, we demonstrate that the firing of an origin normally inhibited by Rif1 can circumvent the replication defect of subtelomeres when ST function is compromised. Our results help illuminate why fission yeast telomeres are terminal fragile sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélina Vaurs
- CNRS, INSERM, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer (équipe labellisée), Marseille, France
| | - Karel Naiman
- CNRS, INSERM, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer (équipe labellisée), Marseille, France; Genome Damage and Stability Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer BN1 9RQ, UK
| | - Chaïnez Bouabboune
- CNRS, INSERM, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer (équipe labellisée), Marseille, France
| | - Sudhir Rai
- CNRS, INSERM, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer (équipe labellisée), Marseille, France
| | - Katarzyna Ptasińska
- Genome Damage and Stability Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer BN1 9RQ, UK
| | - Marion Rives
- CNRS, INSERM, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer (équipe labellisée), Marseille, France
| | - Samah Matmati
- CNRS, INSERM, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer (équipe labellisée), Marseille, France
| | - Antony M Carr
- Genome Damage and Stability Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer BN1 9RQ, UK
| | - Vincent Géli
- CNRS, INSERM, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer (équipe labellisée), Marseille, France.
| | - Stéphane Coulon
- CNRS, INSERM, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer (équipe labellisée), Marseille, France.
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5
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Vaurs M, Audry J, Runge KW, Géli V, Coulon S. A proto-telomere is elongated by telomerase in a shelterin-dependent manner in quiescent fission yeast cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:11682-11695. [PMID: 36330920 PMCID: PMC9723628 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere elongation is coupled with genome replication, raising the question of the repair of short telomeres in post-mitotic cells. We investigated the fate of a telomere-repeat capped end that mimics a single short telomere in quiescent fission yeast cells. We show that telomerase is able to elongate this single short telomere during quiescence despite the binding of Ku to the proto-telomere. While Taz1 and Rap1 repress telomerase in vegetative cells, both shelterin proteins are required for efficient telomere extension in quiescent cells, underscoring a distinct mode of telomerase control. We further show that Rad3ATR and Tel1ATM are redundantly required for telomere elongation in quiescence through the phosphorylation of Ccq1 and that Rif1 and its associated-PP1 phosphatases negatively regulate telomerase activity by opposing Ccq1 phosphorylation. The distinct mode of telomerase regulation in quiescent fission yeast cells may be relevant to that in human stem and progenitor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélina Vaurs
- CNRS, INSERM, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Equipe labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Marseille, F-13009, France
| | - Julien Audry
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Kurt W Runge
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Vincent Géli
- CNRS, INSERM, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Equipe labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Marseille, F-13009, France
| | - Stéphane Coulon
- CNRS, INSERM, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Equipe labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Marseille, F-13009, France
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6
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Gu X, Ye T, Zhang XR, Nie L, Wang H, Li W, Lu R, Fu C, Du LL, Zhou JQ. Single-chromosome fission yeast models reveal the configuration robustness of a functional genome. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111237. [PMID: 36001961 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
In eukaryotic organisms, genetic information is usually carried on multiple chromosomes. Whether and how the number and configuration of chromosomes affect organismal fitness and speciation remain unclear. Here, we have successfully established several single-chromosome fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe strains, in which the three natural chromosomes have been fused into one giant chromosome in different orders. Chromosome fusions accompanied by the deletions of telomeres and centromeres result in the loss of chromosomal interactions and a drastic change of global chromosome organization, but alter gene expression marginally. The single-chromosome strains display little defects in cell morphology, mitosis, genotoxin sensitivity, and meiosis. Crosses between a wild-type strain and a single-chromosome strain or between two single-chromosome strains with different fusion orders suffer defective meiosis and poor spore viability. We conclude that eukaryotic genomes are robust against dramatic chromosomal reconfiguration, and stochastic changes in chromosome number and genome organization during evolution underlie reproductive isolation and speciation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Tiantian Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiao-Ran Zhang
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Lingyun Nie
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membrane-less Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Sciences, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Huan Wang
- Frasergen Bioinformatics, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Li
- Frasergen Bioinformatics, Wuhan, China
| | - Rui Lu
- Frasergen Bioinformatics, Wuhan, China
| | - Chuanhai Fu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membrane-less Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Sciences, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Li-Lin Du
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China.
| | - Jin-Qiu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China.
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7
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Matmati S, Lambert S, Géli V, Coulon S. Telomerase Repairs Collapsed Replication Forks at Telomeres. Cell Rep 2021; 30:3312-3322.e3. [PMID: 32160539 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.02.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are difficult-to-replicate sites whereby replication itself may threaten telomere integrity. We investigate, in fission yeast, telomere replication dynamics in telomerase-negative cells to unmask problems associated with telomere replication. Two-dimensional gel analysis reveals that replication of telomeres is severely impaired and correlates with an accumulation of replication intermediates that arises from stalled and collapsed forks. In the absence of telomerase, Rad51, Mre11-Rad50-Nbs1 (MRN) complex, and its co-factor CtIPCtp1 become critical to maintain telomeres, indicating that homologous recombination processes these intermediates to facilitate fork restart. We further show that a catalytically dead mutant of telomerase prevents Ku recruitment to telomeres, suggesting that telomerase and Ku both compete for the binding of telomeric-free DNA ends that are likely to originate from a reversed fork. We infer that Ku removal at collapsed telomeric forks allows telomerase to repair broken telomeres, thereby shielding telomeres from homologous recombination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samah Matmati
- Marseille Cancer Research Centre (CRCM), U1068 INSERM, UMR7258 CNRS, UM105 Aix-Marseille University, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer (équipe labellisée) Marseille, F-13009, France
| | - Sarah Lambert
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR3348, F-91405 Orsay, France; University Paris Sud, Paris-Saclay University, CNRS, UMR3348, F-91405 Orsay, France
| | - Vincent Géli
- Marseille Cancer Research Centre (CRCM), U1068 INSERM, UMR7258 CNRS, UM105 Aix-Marseille University, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer (équipe labellisée) Marseille, F-13009, France.
| | - Stéphane Coulon
- Marseille Cancer Research Centre (CRCM), U1068 INSERM, UMR7258 CNRS, UM105 Aix-Marseille University, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer (équipe labellisée) Marseille, F-13009, France.
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8
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Coulon S, Vaurs M. Telomeric Transcription and Telomere Rearrangements in Quiescent Cells. J Mol Biol 2020; 432:4220-4231. [PMID: 32061930 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2020.01.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Despite the condensed nature of terminal sequences, the telomeres are transcribed into a group of noncoding RNAs, including the TElomeric Repeat-containing RNA (TERRA). Since the discovery of TERRA, its evolutionary conserved function has been confirmed, and its involvement in telomere length regulation, heterochromatin establishment, and telomere recombination has been demonstrated. We previously reported that TERRA is upregulated in quiescent fission yeast cells, although the global transcription is highly reduced. Elevated telomeric transcription was also detected when telomeres detach from the nuclear periphery. These intriguing observations unveil unexpected facets of telomeric transcription in arrested cells. In this review, we present the different aspects of TERRA transcription during quiescence and discuss their implications for telomere maintenance and cell fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane Coulon
- CNRS, INSERM, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Equipe labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Marseille, F-13009, France.
| | - Mélina Vaurs
- CNRS, INSERM, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Equipe labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Marseille, F-13009, France
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9
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Hu Y, Bennett HW, Liu N, Moravec M, Williams JF, Azzalin CM, King MC. RNA-DNA Hybrids Support Recombination-Based Telomere Maintenance in Fission Yeast. Genetics 2019; 213:431-447. [PMID: 31405990 PMCID: PMC6781888 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.119.302606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A subset of cancers rely on telomerase-independent mechanisms to maintain their chromosome ends. The predominant "alternative lengthening of telomeres" pathway appears dependent on homology-directed repair (HDR) to maintain telomeric DNA. However, the molecular changes needed for cells to productively engage in telomeric HDR are poorly understood. To gain new insights into this transition, we monitored the state of telomeres during serial culture of fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) lacking the telomerase recruitment factor Ccq1. Rad52 is loaded onto critically short telomeres shortly after germination despite continued telomere erosion, suggesting that recruitment of recombination factors is not sufficient to maintain telomeres in the absence of telomerase function. Instead, survivor formation coincides with the derepression of telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA). In this context, degradation of TERRA associated with the telomere in the form of R-loops drives a severe growth crisis, ultimately leading to a novel type of survivor with linear chromosomes and altered cytological telomere characteristics, including the loss of the shelterin component Rap1 (but not the TRF1/TRF2 ortholog, Taz1) from the telomere. We demonstrate that deletion of Rap1 is protective in this context, preventing the growth crisis that is otherwise triggered by degradation of telomeric R-loops in survivors with linear chromosomes. These findings suggest that upregulation of telomere-engaged TERRA, or altered recruitment of shelterin components, can support telomerase-independent telomere maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Hu
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8002
| | - Henrietta W Bennett
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8002
| | - Na Liu
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8002
| | - Martin Moravec
- Institute of Biochemistry (IBC), Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETHZ), 8093, Switzerland
| | - Jessica F Williams
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8002
| | - Claus M Azzalin
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes (iMM), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028, Portugal
| | - Megan C King
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8002
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10
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TASks for subtelomeres: when nucleosome loss and genome instability are favored. Curr Genet 2019; 65:1153-1160. [DOI: 10.1007/s00294-019-00986-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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11
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van Emden TS, Forn M, Forné I, Sarkadi Z, Capella M, Martín Caballero L, Fischer-Burkart S, Brönner C, Simonetta M, Toczyski D, Halic M, Imhof A, Braun S. Shelterin and subtelomeric DNA sequences control nucleosome maintenance and genome stability. EMBO Rep 2018; 20:embr.201847181. [PMID: 30420521 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201847181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Revised: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres and the shelterin complex cap and protect the ends of chromosomes. Telomeres are flanked by the subtelomeric sequences that have also been implicated in telomere regulation, although their role is not well defined. Here, we show that, in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the telomere-associated sequences (TAS) present on most subtelomeres are hyper-recombinogenic, have metastable nucleosomes, and unusual low levels of H3K9 methylation. Ccq1, a subunit of shelterin, protects TAS from nucleosome loss by recruiting the heterochromatic repressor complexes CLRC and SHREC, thereby linking nucleosome stability to gene silencing. Nucleosome instability at TAS is independent of telomeric repeats and can be transmitted to an intrachromosomal locus containing an ectopic TAS fragment, indicating that this is an intrinsic property of the underlying DNA sequence. When telomerase recruitment is compromised in cells lacking Ccq1, DNA sequences present in the TAS promote recombination between chromosomal ends, independent of nucleosome abundance, implying an active function of these sequences in telomere maintenance. We propose that Ccq1 and fragile subtelomeres co-evolved to regulate telomere plasticity by controlling nucleosome occupancy and genome stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas S van Emden
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, BioMedical Center (BMC), Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Martinsried, Germany.,International Max Planck Research School for Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Marta Forn
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, BioMedical Center (BMC), Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Ignasi Forné
- Protein Analysis Unit (ZfP), BioMedical Center (BMC), Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Zsuzsa Sarkadi
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, BioMedical Center (BMC), Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Matías Capella
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, BioMedical Center (BMC), Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Lucía Martín Caballero
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, BioMedical Center (BMC), Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Martinsried, Germany.,International Max Planck Research School for Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Sabine Fischer-Burkart
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, BioMedical Center (BMC), Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Cornelia Brönner
- Department of Biochemistry, Gene Center, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Marco Simonetta
- Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - David Toczyski
- Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mario Halic
- Department of Biochemistry, Gene Center, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Axel Imhof
- Protein Analysis Unit (ZfP), BioMedical Center (BMC), Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Sigurd Braun
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, BioMedical Center (BMC), Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Martinsried, Germany .,International Max Planck Research School for Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences, Martinsried, Germany
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12
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Matmati S, Vaurs M, Escandell JM, Maestroni L, Nakamura TM, Ferreira MG, Géli V, Coulon S. The fission yeast Stn1-Ten1 complex limits telomerase activity via its SUMO-interacting motif and promotes telomeres replication. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2018; 4:eaar2740. [PMID: 29774234 PMCID: PMC5955624 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aar2740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian CST (CTC1-STN1-TEN1) complex fulfills numerous functions including rescue of the stalled replication forks and termination of telomerase action. In fission yeast lacking the CTC1 ortholog, the Stn1-Ten1 complex restricts telomerase action via its sumoylation-mediated interaction with Tpz1TPP1. We identify a small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)-interacting motif (SIM) in the carboxyl-terminal part of Stn1 and show that this domain is crucial for SUMO and Tpz1-SUMO interactions. Point mutations in the SIM (Stn1-226) lead to telomere elongation, impair Stn1-Ten1 recruitment to telomeres, and enhance telomerase binding, revealing that Stn1 SIM domain contributes to the inhibition of telomerase activity at chromosome ends. Our results suggest that Stn1-Ten1 promotes DNA synthesis at telomeres to limit single-strand DNA accumulation. We further demonstrate that Stn1 functions in the replication of telomeric and subtelomeric regions in a Taz1-independent manner. Genetic analysis reveals that misregulation of origin firing and/or telomerase inhibition circumvents the replication defects of the stn1-226 mutant. Together, our results show that the Stn1-Ten1 complex has a dual function at telomeres by limiting telomerase action and promoting chromosome end replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samah Matmati
- CRCM, CNRS, INSERM, Aix-Marseille Université, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Equipe Labellisée Ligue, 27 Boulevard Lei Roure, Marseille, France
| | - Mélina Vaurs
- CRCM, CNRS, INSERM, Aix-Marseille Université, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Equipe Labellisée Ligue, 27 Boulevard Lei Roure, Marseille, France
| | - José M. Escandell
- Telomere and Genome Stability Laboratory, Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Laetitia Maestroni
- CRCM, CNRS, INSERM, Aix-Marseille Université, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Equipe Labellisée Ligue, 27 Boulevard Lei Roure, Marseille, France
| | - Toru M. Nakamura
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Miguel G. Ferreira
- Telomere and Genome Stability Laboratory, Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
- Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging, Nice, Faculty of Medicine, CNRS UMR7284, INSERM U1081, University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France
| | - Vincent Géli
- CRCM, CNRS, INSERM, Aix-Marseille Université, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Equipe Labellisée Ligue, 27 Boulevard Lei Roure, Marseille, France
| | - Stéphane Coulon
- CRCM, CNRS, INSERM, Aix-Marseille Université, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Equipe Labellisée Ligue, 27 Boulevard Lei Roure, Marseille, France
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13
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Lue NF, Yu EY. Telomere recombination pathways: tales of several unhappy marriages. Curr Genet 2016; 63:401-409. [PMID: 27666406 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-016-0653-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2016] [Revised: 09/19/2016] [Accepted: 09/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.-Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neal F Lue
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, W. R. Hearst Microbiology Research Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA. .,Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Eun Young Yu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, W. R. Hearst Microbiology Research Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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14
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Telomerase RNA stem terminus element affects template boundary element function, telomere sequence, and shelterin binding. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:11312-7. [PMID: 26305931 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1503157112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The stem terminus element (STE), which was discovered 13 y ago in human telomerase RNA, is required for telomerase activity, yet its mode of action is unknown. We report that the Schizosaccharomyces pombe telomerase RNA, TER1 (telomerase RNA 1), also contains a STE, which is essential for telomere maintenance. Cells expressing a partial loss-of-function TER1 STE allele maintained short stable telomeres by a recombination-independent mechanism. Remarkably, the mutant telomere sequence was different from that of wild-type cells. Generation of the altered sequence is explained by reverse transcription into the template boundary element, demonstrating that the STE helps maintain template boundary element function. The altered telomeres bound less Pot1 (protection of telomeres 1) and Taz1 (telomere-associated in Schizosaccharomyces pombe 1) in vivo. Thus, the S. pombe STE, although distant from the template, ensures proper telomere sequence, which in turn promotes proper assembly of the shelterin complex.
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15
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Abstract
The ends of linear chromosomes are capped by nucleoprotein structures called telomeres. A dysfunctional telomere may resemble a DNA double-strand break (DSB), which is a severe form of DNA damage. The presence of one DSB is sufficient to drive cell cycle arrest and cell death. Therefore cells have evolved mechanisms to repair DSBs such as homologous recombination (HR). HR-mediated repair of telomeres can lead to genome instability, a hallmark of cancer cells, which is why such repair is normally inhibited. However, some HR-mediated processes are required for proper telomere function. The need for some recombination activities at telomeres but not others necessitates careful and complex regulation, defects in which can lead to catastrophic consequences. Furthermore, some cell types can maintain telomeres via telomerase-independent, recombination-mediated mechanisms. In humans, these mechanisms are called alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) and are used in a subset of human cancer cells. In this review, we summarize the different recombination activities occurring at telomeres and discuss how they are regulated. Much of the current knowledge is derived from work using yeast models, which is the focus of this review, but relevant studies in mammals are also included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clémence Claussin
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Michael Chang
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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16
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Audry J, Maestroni L, Delagoutte E, Gauthier T, Nakamura TM, Gachet Y, Saintomé C, Géli V, Coulon S. RPA prevents G-rich structure formation at lagging-strand telomeres to allow maintenance of chromosome ends. EMBO J 2015; 34:1942-58. [PMID: 26041456 DOI: 10.15252/embj.201490773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2014] [Accepted: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Replication protein A (RPA) is a highly conserved heterotrimeric single-stranded DNA-binding protein involved in DNA replication, recombination, and repair. In fission yeast, the Rpa1-D223Y mutation provokes telomere shortening. Here, we show that this mutation impairs lagging-strand telomere replication and leads to the accumulation of secondary structures and recruitment of the homologous recombination factor Rad52. The presence of these secondary DNA structures correlates with reduced association of shelterin subunits Pot1 and Ccq1 at telomeres. Strikingly, heterologous expression of the budding yeast Pif1 known to efficiently unwind G-quadruplex rescues all the telomeric defects of the D223Y cells. Furthermore, in vitro data show that the identical D to Y mutation in human RPA specifically affects its ability to bind G-quadruplex. We propose that RPA prevents the formation of G-quadruplex structures at lagging-strand telomeres to promote shelterin association and facilitate telomerase action at telomeres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Audry
- Cancer Research Center of Marseille (CRCM), U1068 Inserm, UMR7258 CNRS, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix Marseille University (AMU), Marseille, France Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer (LNCC) (Equipe Labellisée), Paris, France
| | - Laetitia Maestroni
- Cancer Research Center of Marseille (CRCM), U1068 Inserm, UMR7258 CNRS, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix Marseille University (AMU), Marseille, France Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer (LNCC) (Equipe Labellisée), Paris, France
| | - Emmanuelle Delagoutte
- Structure des Acides Nucléiques, Télomères et Evolution, Inserm U1154, CNRS UMR 7196, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Tiphaine Gauthier
- Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire du Controle de la Prolifération UMR5088, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Toru M Nakamura
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Yannick Gachet
- Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire du Controle de la Prolifération UMR5088, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Carole Saintomé
- Structure des Acides Nucléiques, Télomères et Evolution, Inserm U1154, CNRS UMR 7196, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris Cedex 05, France UPMC Univ Paris 06, UFR927, Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France
| | - Vincent Géli
- Cancer Research Center of Marseille (CRCM), U1068 Inserm, UMR7258 CNRS, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix Marseille University (AMU), Marseille, France Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer (LNCC) (Equipe Labellisée), Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Coulon
- Cancer Research Center of Marseille (CRCM), U1068 Inserm, UMR7258 CNRS, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix Marseille University (AMU), Marseille, France Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer (LNCC) (Equipe Labellisée), Paris, France
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17
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Fennell A, Fernández-Álvarez A, Tomita K, Cooper JP. Telomeres and centromeres have interchangeable roles in promoting meiotic spindle formation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 208:415-28. [PMID: 25688135 PMCID: PMC4332249 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201409058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Both centromere–centrosome and telomere–centrosome contacts can promote spindle formation during meiosis. Telomeres and centromeres have traditionally been considered to perform distinct roles. During meiotic prophase, in a conserved chromosomal configuration called the bouquet, telomeres gather to the nuclear membrane (NM), often near centrosomes. We found previously that upon disruption of the fission yeast bouquet, centrosomes failed to insert into the NM at meiosis I and nucleate bipolar spindles. Hence, the trans-NM association of telomeres with centrosomes during prophase is crucial for efficient spindle formation. Nonetheless, in approximately half of bouquet-deficient meiocytes, spindles form properly. Here, we show that bouquet-deficient cells can successfully undergo meiosis using centromere–centrosome contact instead of telomere–centrosome contact to generate spindle formation. Accordingly, forced association between centromeres and centrosomes fully rescued the spindle defects incurred by bouquet disruption. Telomeres and centromeres both stimulate focal accumulation of the SUN domain protein Sad1 beneath the centrosome, suggesting a molecular underpinning for their shared spindle-generating ability. Our observations demonstrate an unanticipated level of interchangeability between the two most prominent chromosomal landmarks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Fennell
- Telomere Biology Section, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 Telomere Biology Laboratory, Cancer Research UK, London Research Institute, London WC2A 3LY, England, UK
| | - Alfonso Fernández-Álvarez
- Telomere Biology Section, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 Telomere Biology Laboratory, Cancer Research UK, London Research Institute, London WC2A 3LY, England, UK
| | - Kazunori Tomita
- Chromosome Maintenance Group, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, England, UK
| | - Julia Promisel Cooper
- Telomere Biology Section, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 Telomere Biology Laboratory, Cancer Research UK, London Research Institute, London WC2A 3LY, England, UK
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18
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The 3' overhangs at Tetrahymena thermophila telomeres are packaged by four proteins, Pot1a, Tpt1, Pat1, and Pat2. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2013; 13:240-5. [PMID: 24297442 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00275-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Although studies with the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila have played a central role in advancing our understanding of telomere biology and telomerase mechanisms and composition, the full complement of Tetrahymena telomere proteins has not yet been identified. Previously, we demonstrated that in Tetrahymena, the telomeric 3' overhang is protected by a three-protein complex composed of Pot1a, Tpt1, and Pat1. Here we show that Tpt1 and Pat1 associate with a fourth protein, Pat2 (Pot1 associated Tetrahymena 2). Mass spectrometry of proteins copurifying with Pat1 or Tpt1 identified peptides from Pat2, Pot1a, Tpt1, and Pat1. The lack of other proteins copurifying with Pat1 or Tpt1 implies that the overhang is protected by a four-protein Pot1a-Tpt1-Pat1-Pat2 complex. We verified that Pat2 localizes to telomeres, but we were unable to detect direct binding to telomeric DNA. Cells depleted of Pat2 continue to divide, but the telomeres exhibit gradual shortening. The lack of growth arrest indicates that, in contrast to Pot1a and Tpt1, Pat2 is not required for the sequestration of the telomere from the DNA repair machinery. Instead, Pat2 is needed to regulate telomere length, most likely by acting in conjunction with Pat1 to allow telomerase access to the telomere.
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19
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A single internal telomere tract ensures meiotic spindle formation. EMBO Rep 2013; 14:252-60. [PMID: 23295325 DOI: 10.1038/embor.2012.218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2012] [Revised: 12/03/2012] [Accepted: 12/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Contact between telomeres and the fission yeast spindle pole body during meiotic prophase is crucial for subsequent spindle assembly, but the feature of telomeres that confers their ability to promote spindle formation remains mysterious. Here we show that while strains harbouring circular chromosomes devoid of telomere repeat tracts undergo aberrant meiosis with defective spindles, the insertion of a single internal telomere repeat stretch rescues the spindle defects. Moreover, the telomeric overhang-binding protein Pot1 is dispensable for rescue of spindle formation. Hence, an inherent feature of the double-strand telomeric region endows telomeres with the capacity to promote spindle formation.
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20
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Dehé PM, Rog O, Ferreira M, Greenwood J, Cooper J. Taz1 Enforces Cell-Cycle Regulation of Telomere Synthesis. Mol Cell 2012; 46:797-808. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2012.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2011] [Revised: 02/21/2012] [Accepted: 04/13/2012] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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21
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Greenwood J, Cooper JP. Non-coding telomeric and subtelomeric transcripts are differentially regulated by telomeric and heterochromatin assembly factors in fission yeast. Nucleic Acids Res 2011; 40:2956-63. [PMID: 22139922 PMCID: PMC3326310 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkr1155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
While telomere repeat-containing non-coding RNA has been identified in a variety of eukaryotes, its biological role is not yet clear. We have identified telomeric transcripts in fission yeast, a model system that combines precise genetic manipulability with telomeres remarkably similar to those of human. Like human and budding yeast, fission yeast harbours a population of telomeric RNA molecules containing G-rich telomeric repeats transcribed from the subtelomere to the telomere. In addition, we detect substantial levels of C-rich telomeric RNA whose appearance is independent of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, suggesting that the telomere repeats themselves serve as promoter sites; multiple distinct subtelomeric RNAs are also present. The regulation of these transcripts depends on the telomere-associated proteins Taz1 and Rap1, as deletion of taz1+ or rap1+ leads to increased levels of both telomere repeat-containing and subtelomeric transcripts. In contrast, loss of the heterochromatin proteins Swi6 or Clr4 or the telomerase regulator Rif1 results in elevated subtelomeric RNA levels while telomere-repeat containing transcript levels remain repressed. Coupled with the large body of knowledge surrounding the functions of telomeric and heterochromatin factors in fission yeast, these in vivo analyses suggest testable models for the roles of TERRA in telomere function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Greenwood
- Cancer Research UK, London Research Institute, 44 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LY, UK
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22
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Altschuler SE, Dickey TH, Wuttke DS. Schizosaccharomyces pombe protection of telomeres 1 utilizes alternate binding modes to accommodate different telomeric sequences. Biochemistry 2011; 50:7503-13. [PMID: 21815629 DOI: 10.1021/bi200826a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The ends of eukaryotic chromosomes consist of long tracts of repetitive GT-rich DNA with variable sequence homogeneity between and within organisms. Telomeres terminate in a conserved 3'-ssDNA overhang that, regardless of sequence variability, is specifically and tightly bound by proteins of the telomere-end protection family. The high affinity ssDNA-binding activity of S. pombe Pot1 protein (SpPot1) is conferred by a DNA-binding domain consisting of two subdomains, Pot1pN and Pot1pC. Previous work has shown that Pot1pN binds a single repeat of the core telomere sequence (GGTTAC) with exquisite specificity, while Pot1pC binds an extended sequence of nine nucleotides (GGTTACGGT) with modest specificity requirements. We find that full-length SpPot1 binds the composite 15mer, (GGTTAC)(2)GGT, and a shorter two-repeat 12mer, (GGTTAC)(2), with equally high affinity (<3 pM), but with substantially different kinetic and thermodynamic properties. The binding mode of the SpPot1/15mer complex is more stable than that of the 12mer complex, with a 2-fold longer half-life and increased tolerance to nucleotide and amino acid substitutions. Our data suggest that SpPot1 protection of heterogeneous telomeres is mediated through 5'-sequence recognition and the use of alternate binding modes to maintain high affinity interaction with the G-strand, while simultaneously discriminating against the complementary strand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Altschuler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0215, United States
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23
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Bah A, Gilson E, Wellinger RJ. Telomerase is required to protect chromosomes with vertebrate-type T2AG3 3' ends in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:27132-8. [PMID: 21676873 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.220186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres containing vertebrate-type DNA repeats can be stably maintained in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells. We show here that telomerase is required for growth of yeast cells containing these vertebrate-type telomeres. When present at the chromosome termini, these heterologous repeats elicit a DNA damage response and a certain deprotection of telomeres. The data also show that these phenotypes are due only to the terminal localization of the vertebrate repeats because if they are sandwiched between native yeast repeats, no phenotype is observed. Indeed and quite surprisingly, in this latter situation, telomeres are of virtually normal lengths, despite the presence of up to 50% of heterologous repeats. Furthermore, the presence of the distal vertebrate-type repeats can cause increased problems of the replication fork. These results show that in budding yeast the integrity of the 3' overhang is required for proper termination of telomere replication as well as protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amadou Bah
- Département de Microbiologie et d'Infectiologie, Groupe ARN/RNA Group, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Ave. Nord, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
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24
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Affiliation(s)
- Devanshi Jain
- Telomere Biology Laboratory, Cancer Research UK, London Research Institute, London WC2A 3PX, United Kingdom;
| | - Julia Promisel Cooper
- Telomere Biology Laboratory, Cancer Research UK, London Research Institute, London WC2A 3PX, United Kingdom;
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