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Liu CC, Capart MMM, Lin JJ. Mismatch repair enzymes regulate telomere recombination in Saccharomycescerevisiae. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 707:149768. [PMID: 38489874 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
DNA mismatch repair (MMR) is a crucial mechanism that ensures chromosome stability and prevents the development of various human cancers. Apart from its role in correcting mismatches during DNA replication, MMR also plays a significant role in regulating recombination between non-identical sequences, a process known as homeologous recombination. Telomeres, the protective ends of eukaryotic chromosomes, possess sequences that are not perfectly homologous. While telomerase primarily maintains telomere length in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, recombination between telomeres becomes a major pathway for length maintenance in cells lacking telomerase. This study investigates the participation of MMR in telomere recombination. Our findings reveal that mutations in MMR genes activate type I recombination. Notably, among the MMR proteins, MutSα (Msh2 and Msh6) and MutLα (Mlh1 and Pms1) exerted the most pronounced effects on telomere recombination. We also found that yeast cells containing simple human telomeric TTAGGG DNA sequences preferentially utilize type II recombination to maintain their telomeres, highlighting the influence of the heterogeneous nature of yeast telomeric sequences on type II recombination. Furthermore, our observations indicate that MMR activity is indispensable for its impact on telomere recombination. Collectively, these results contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the role of MMR in telomere recombination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Chun Liu
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Mathilde M M Capart
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jing-Jer Lin
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
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2
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Chen B, Weng Y, Li M, Bian Z, Tao Y, Zhou W, Lu H, He S, Liao R, Huang J, Wang Q, Xu M, Ge Y, Cao W, Lei M, Zhang Y. LINC02454-CCT complex interaction is essential for telomerase activity and cell proliferation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Lett 2024; 588:216734. [PMID: 38401886 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Telomerase activity is upregulated in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), yet its regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we identified a cancer-specific lncRNA (LINC02454) associated with poor prognosis by using LncRNA chip of our HNSCC cohorts and external datasets. Through employing negative-stain transmission electron microscopy (NS-TEM), we discovered an interaction between LINC02454 and CCT complex which would augment telomerase activity for maintaining telomere homeostasis. Supporting this, in the telomerase repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay and quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization (Q-FISH) analysis, LINC02454 depletion significantly reduced telomerase activity and shortened telomere length. Consistently, pathways related to telomerase, mitosis, and apoptosis were significantly impacted upon LINC02454 knockdown in RNAseq analysis. Functionally, LINC02454-deficient cells exhibited a more significant senescence phenotype in β-galactosidase staining, cell cycle, and apoptosis assays. We further confirmed the role of LINC02454 in HNSCC proliferation through a combination of in vitro and in vivo experiments. The therapeutic potential of targeting LINC02454 was verified by adenovirus-shRNA approach in HNSCC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. In summary, our findings provided valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms of HNSCC tumorigenesis and potential targets for future treatment modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biying Chen
- Department of Oncology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201900, China; Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China
| | - Yue Weng
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Mingyue Li
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Zhouliang Bian
- Department of Oncology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201900, China; Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China
| | - Ye Tao
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Wenkai Zhou
- Department of Oral Maxillofacial-Head Neck Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Hong Lu
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Shufang He
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Rijing Liao
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Jie Huang
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Oncology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201900, China; Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China
| | - Ming Xu
- Department of Oncology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201900, China; Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China
| | - Yunhui Ge
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Wei Cao
- Department of Oral Maxillofacial-Head Neck Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China.
| | - Ming Lei
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
| | - Yanjie Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201900, China; Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China.
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3
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Hu C, Zhu XT, He MH, Shao Y, Qin Z, Wu ZJ, Zhou JQ. Elimination of subtelomeric repeat sequences exerts little effect on telomere essential functions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. eLife 2024; 12:RP91223. [PMID: 38656297 DOI: 10.7554/elife.91223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Telomeres, which are chromosomal end structures, play a crucial role in maintaining genome stability and integrity in eukaryotes. In the baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the X- and Y'-elements are subtelomeric repetitive sequences found in all 32 and 17 telomeres, respectively. While the Y'-elements serve as a backup for telomere functions in cells lacking telomerase, the function of the X-elements remains unclear. This study utilized the S. cerevisiae strain SY12, which has three chromosomes and six telomeres, to investigate the role of X-elements (as well as Y'-elements) in telomere maintenance. Deletion of Y'-elements (SY12YΔ), X-elements (SY12XYΔ+Y), or both X- and Y'-elements (SY12XYΔ) did not impact the length of the terminal TG1-3 tracks or telomere silencing. However, inactivation of telomerase in SY12YΔ, SY12XYΔ+Y, and SY12XYΔ cells resulted in cellular senescence and the generation of survivors. These survivors either maintained their telomeres through homologous recombination-dependent TG1-3 track elongation or underwent microhomology-mediated intra-chromosomal end-to-end joining. Our findings indicate the non-essential role of subtelomeric X- and Y'-elements in telomere regulation in both telomerase-proficient and telomerase-null cells and suggest that these elements may represent remnants of S. cerevisiae genome evolution. Furthermore, strains with fewer or no subtelomeric elements exhibit more concise telomere structures and offer potential models for future studies in telomere biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Hu
- The State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xue-Ting Zhu
- The State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming-Hong He
- The State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yangyang Shao
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhongjun Qin
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi-Jing Wu
- The State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jin-Qiu Zhou
- The State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
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Chatterjee S, Leach-Mehrwald M, Huang CK, Xiao K, Fuchs M, Otto M, Lu D, Dang V, Winkler T, Dunbar CE, Thum T, Bär C. Telomerase is essential for cardiac differentiation and sustained metabolism of human cardiomyocytes. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:196. [PMID: 38658440 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05239-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Telomeres as the protective ends of linear chromosomes, are synthesized by the enzyme telomerase (TERT). Critically short telomeres essentially contribute to aging-related diseases and are associated with a broad spectrum of disorders known as telomeropathies. In cardiomyocytes, telomere length is strongly correlated with cardiomyopathies but it remains ambiguous whether short telomeres are the cause or the result of the disease. In this study, we employed an inducible CRISPRi human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) line to silence TERT expression enabling the generation of hiPSCs and hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes with long and short telomeres. Reduced telomerase activity and shorter telomere lengths of hiPSCs induced global transcriptomic changes associated with cardiac developmental pathways. Consequently, the differentiation potential towards cardiomyocytes was strongly impaired and single cell RNA sequencing revealed a shift towards a more smooth muscle cell like identity in the cells with the shortest telomeres. Poor cardiomyocyte function and increased sensitivity to stress directly correlated with the extent of telomere shortening. Collectively our data demonstrates a TERT dependent cardiomyogenic differentiation defect, highlighting the CRISPRi TERT hiPSCs model as a powerful platform to study the mechanisms and consequences of short telomeres in the heart and also in the context of telomeropathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shambhabi Chatterjee
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies (IMTTS), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Center of Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Hannover, Germany
| | - Megan Leach-Mehrwald
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies (IMTTS), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Cheng-Kai Huang
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies (IMTTS), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ke Xiao
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies (IMTTS), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Hannover, Germany
| | - Maximilian Fuchs
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Hannover, Germany
| | - Mandy Otto
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Hannover, Germany
| | - Dongchao Lu
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies (IMTTS), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Center of Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Vinh Dang
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Thomas Winkler
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Cynthia E Dunbar
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Thomas Thum
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies (IMTTS), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Center of Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Christian Bär
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies (IMTTS), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
- Center of Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Hannover, Germany.
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5
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Audry J, Zhang H, Kerr C, Berkner KL, Runge KW. Ccq1 restrains Mre11-mediated degradation to distinguish short telomeres from double-strand breaks. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:3722-3739. [PMID: 38321948 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Telomeres protect chromosome ends and are distinguished from DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) by means of a specialized chromatin composed of DNA repeats bound by a multiprotein complex called shelterin. We investigated the role of telomere-associated proteins in establishing end-protection by studying viable mutants lacking these proteins. Mutants were studied using a Schizosaccharomyces pombe model system that induces cutting of a 'proto-telomere' bearing telomere repeats to rapidly form a new stable chromosomal end, in contrast to the rapid degradation of a control DSB. Cells lacking the telomere-associated proteins Taz1, Rap1, Poz1 or Rif1 formed a chromosome end that was stable. Surprisingly, cells lacking Ccq1, or impaired for recruiting Ccq1 to the telomere, converted the cleaved proto-telomere to a rapidly degraded DSB. Ccq1 recruits telomerase, establishes heterochromatin and affects DNA damage checkpoint activation; however, these functions were separable from protection of the new telomere by Ccq1. In cells lacking Ccq1, telomere degradation was greatly reduced by eliminating the nuclease activity of Mre11 (part of the Mre11-Rad50-Nbs1/Xrs2 DSB processing complex), and higher amounts of nuclease-deficient Mre11 associated with the new telomere. These results demonstrate a novel function for S. pombe Ccq1 to effect end-protection by restraining Mre11-dependent degradation of the DNA end.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Audry
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Haitao Zhang
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Carly Kerr
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Kathleen L Berkner
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Kurt W Runge
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
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Fernández-Varas B, Manguan-García C, Rodriguez-Centeno J, Mendoza-Lupiáñez L, Calatayud J, Perona R, Martín-Martínez M, Gutierrez-Rodriguez M, Benítez-Buelga C, Sastre L. Clinical mutations in the TERT and TERC genes coding for telomerase components induced oxidative stress, DNA damage at telomeres and cell apoptosis besides decreased telomerase activity. Hum Mol Genet 2024; 33:818-834. [PMID: 38641551 PMCID: PMC11031360 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddae015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are nucleoprotein structures at the end of chromosomes that maintain their integrity. Mutations in genes coding for proteins involved in telomere protection and elongation produce diseases such as dyskeratosis congenita or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis known as telomeropathies. These diseases are characterized by premature telomere shortening, increased DNA damage and oxidative stress. Genetic diagnosis of telomeropathy patients has identified mutations in the genes TERT and TERC coding for telomerase components but the functional consequences of many of these mutations still have to be experimentally demonstrated. The activity of twelve TERT and five TERC mutants, five of them identified in Spanish patients, has been analyzed. TERT and TERC mutants were expressed in VA-13 human cells that express low telomerase levels and the activity induced was analyzed. The production of reactive oxygen species, DNA oxidation and TRF2 association at telomeres, DNA damage response and cell apoptosis were determined. Most mutations presented decreased telomerase activity, as compared to wild-type TERT and TERC. In addition, the expression of several TERT and TERC mutants induced oxidative stress, DNA oxidation, DNA damage, decreased recruitment of the shelterin component TRF2 to telomeres and increased apoptosis. These observations might indicate that the increase in DNA damage and oxidative stress observed in cells from telomeropathy patients is dependent on their TERT or TERC mutations. Therefore, analysis of the effect of TERT and TERC mutations of unknown function on DNA damage and oxidative stress could be of great utility to determine the possible pathogenicity of these variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Fernández-Varas
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas Sols/Morreale CSIC/UAM, Arturo Duperier 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Manguan-García
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas Sols/Morreale CSIC/UAM, Arturo Duperier 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III. C. Melchor Fernandez de Almagro, 3, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Rodriguez-Centeno
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas Sols/Morreale CSIC/UAM, Arturo Duperier 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Lucía Mendoza-Lupiáñez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas Sols/Morreale CSIC/UAM, Arturo Duperier 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Joaquin Calatayud
- Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química inorgánica. ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, Móstoles, C.P. 28933 Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosario Perona
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III. C. Melchor Fernandez de Almagro, 3, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Calle Monforte de Lemos 5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Carlos Benítez-Buelga
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas Sols/Morreale CSIC/UAM, Arturo Duperier 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Leandro Sastre
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas Sols/Morreale CSIC/UAM, Arturo Duperier 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III. C. Melchor Fernandez de Almagro, 3, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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Padmanaban S, Lambacher NJ, Tesmer VM, Zhang J, Shibuya H, Nandakumar J. Caenorhabditis elegans telomere-binding proteins TEBP-1 and TEBP-2 adapt the Myb module to dimerize and bind telomeric DNA. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2316651121. [PMID: 38588418 PMCID: PMC11032478 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2316651121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Protecting chromosome ends from misrecognition as double-stranded (ds) DNA breaks is fundamental to eukaryotic viability. The protein complex shelterin prevents a DNA damage response at mammalian telomeres. Mammalian shelterin proteins TRF1 and TRF2 and their homologs in yeast and protozoa protect telomeric dsDNA. N-terminal homodimerization and C-terminal Myb-domain-mediated dsDNA binding are two structural hallmarks of end protection by TRF homologs. Yet our understanding of how Caenorhabditis elegans protects its telomeric dsDNA is limited. Recently identified C. elegans proteins TEBP-1 (also called DTN-1) and TEBP-2 (also called DTN-2) are functional homologs of TRF proteins, but how they bind DNA and whether or how they dimerize is not known. TEBP-1 and TEBP-2 harbor three Myb-containing domains (MCDs) and no obvious dimerization domain. We demonstrate biochemically that only the third MCD binds DNA. We solve the X-ray crystal structure of TEBP-2 MCD3 with telomeric dsDNA to reveal the structural mechanism of telomeric dsDNA protection in C. elegans. Mutagenesis of the DNA-binding site of TEBP-1 and TEBP-2 compromises DNA binding in vitro, and increases DNA damage signaling, lengthens telomeres, and decreases brood size in vivo. Via an X-ray crystal structure, biochemical validation of the dimerization interface, and SEC-MALS analysis, we demonstrate that MCD1 and MCD2 form a composite dimerization module that facilitates not only TEBP-1 and TEBP-2 homodimerization but also heterodimerization. These findings provide fundamental insights into C. elegans telomeric dsDNA protection and highlight how different eukaryotes have evolved distinct strategies to solve the chromosome end protection problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilpa Padmanaban
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48109
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO63110
| | - Nils J. Lambacher
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden41390
| | - Valerie M. Tesmer
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48109
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden41390
| | - Hiroki Shibuya
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden41390
- Laboratory for Gametogenesis, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe650-0047, Japan
| | - Jayakrishnan Nandakumar
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48109
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Muoio D, Laspata N, Dannenberg RL, Curry C, Darkoa-Larbi S, Hedglin M, Uttam S, Fouquerel E. PARP2 promotes Break Induced Replication-mediated telomere fragility in response to replication stress. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2857. [PMID: 38565848 PMCID: PMC10987537 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47222-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
PARP2 is a DNA-dependent ADP-ribosyl transferase (ARTs) enzyme with Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation activity that is triggered by DNA breaks. It plays a role in the Base Excision Repair pathway, where it has overlapping functions with PARP1. However, additional roles for PARP2 have emerged in the response of cells to replication stress. In this study, we demonstrate that PARP2 promotes replication stress-induced telomere fragility and prevents telomere loss following chronic induction of oxidative DNA lesions and BLM helicase depletion. Telomere fragility results from the activity of the break-induced replication pathway (BIR). During this process, PARP2 promotes DNA end resection, strand invasion and BIR-dependent mitotic DNA synthesis by orchestrating POLD3 recruitment and activity. Our study has identified a role for PARP2 in the response to replication stress. This finding may lead to the development of therapeutic approaches that target DNA-dependent ART enzymes, particularly in cancer cells with high levels of replication stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Muoio
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Natalie Laspata
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, 233S. 10th street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Rachel L Dannenberg
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University park, State College, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Caroline Curry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, 233S. 10th street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Simone Darkoa-Larbi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, 233S. 10th street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Mark Hedglin
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University park, State College, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Shikhar Uttam
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5117 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Elise Fouquerel
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
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9
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Alanazi AFR, Parkinson GN, Haider S. Structural Motifs at the Telomeres and Their Role in Regulatory Pathways. Biochemistry 2024; 63:827-842. [PMID: 38481135 PMCID: PMC10993422 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.4c00023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Telomeres are specialized structures, found at the ends of linear chromosomes in eukaryotic cells, that play a crucial role in maintaining the stability and integrity of genomes. They are composed of repetitive DNA sequences, ssDNA overhangs, and several associated proteins. The length of telomeres is linked to cellular aging in humans, and deficiencies in their maintenance are associated with various diseases. Key structural motifs at the telomeres serve to protect vulnerable chromosomal ends. Telomeric DNA also has the ability to form diverse complex DNA higher-order structures, including T-loops, D-loops, R-loops, G-loops, G-quadruplexes, and i-motifs, in the complementary C-rich strand. While many essential proteins at telomeres have been identified, the intricacies of their interactions and structural details are still not fully understood. This Perspective highlights recent advancements in comprehending the structures associated with human telomeres. It emphasizes the significance of telomeres, explores various telomeric structural motifs, and delves into the structural biology surrounding telomeres and telomerase. Furthermore, telomeric loops, their topologies, and the associated proteins that contribute to the safeguarding of telomeres are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abeer F R Alanazi
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom
| | - Gary N Parkinson
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom
| | - Shozeb Haider
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom
- UCL Centre for Advanced Research Computing, University College London, London WC1H 9RN, United Kingdom
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10
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Chen S, Pan C, Huang J, Liu T. ATR limits Rad18-mediated PCNA monoubiquitination to preserve replication fork and telomerase-independent telomere stability. EMBO J 2024; 43:1301-1324. [PMID: 38467834 PMCID: PMC10987609 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-024-00066-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Upon replication fork stalling, the RPA-coated single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) formed behind the fork activates the ataxia telangiectasia-mutated and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase, concomitantly initiating Rad18-dependent monoubiquitination of PCNA. However, whether crosstalk exists between these two events and the underlying physiological implications of this interplay remain elusive. In this study, we demonstrate that during replication stress, ATR phosphorylates human Rad18 at Ser403, an adjacent residue to a previously unidentified PIP motif (PCNA-interacting peptide) within Rad18. This phosphorylation event disrupts the interaction between Rad18 and PCNA, thereby restricting the extent of Rad18-mediated PCNA monoubiquitination. Consequently, excessive accumulation of the tumor suppressor protein SLX4, now characterized as a novel reader of ubiquitinated PCNA, at stalled forks is prevented, contributing to the prevention of stalled fork collapse. We further establish that ATR preserves telomere stability in alternative lengthening of telomere (ALT) cells by restricting Rad18-mediated PCNA monoubiquitination and excessive SLX4 accumulation at telomeres. These findings shed light on the complex interplay between ATR activation, Rad18-dependent PCNA monoubiquitination, and SLX4-associated stalled fork processing, emphasizing the critical role of ATR in preserving replication fork stability and facilitating telomerase-independent telomere maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Chen
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Geriatrics and Geriatrics Institute of Zhejiang Province, Affiliated Zhejiang Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310058, Hangzhou, China
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chen Pan
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jun Huang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Geriatrics and Geriatrics Institute of Zhejiang Province, Affiliated Zhejiang Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310058, Hangzhou, China.
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Molecular Cell Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, China.
- Center for Life Sciences, Shaoxing Institute, Zhejiang University, 321000, Shaoxing, China.
| | - Ting Liu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Geriatrics and Geriatrics Institute of Zhejiang Province, Affiliated Zhejiang Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310058, Hangzhou, China.
- Department of Cell Biology, and Department of General Surgery of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310058, Hangzhou, China.
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11
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Jayaprasad AG, Chandrasekharan A, Arun Jyothi SP, John Sam SM, Santhoshkumar TR, Pillai MR. Telomerase inhibitors induce mitochondrial oxidation and DNA damage-dependent cell death rescued by Bcl-2/Bcl-xL. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 264:130151. [PMID: 38403227 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reactivation of telomerase is a hallmark of cancer and the majority of cancers over-express telomerase. Telomerase-dependent telomere length maintenance confers immortality to cancer cells. However, telomere length-independent cell survival functions of telomerase also play a critical role in tumorigenesis. Multiple telomerase inhibitors have been developed as therapeutics and include anti-sense oligonucleotides, telomerase RNA component targeting agents, chemical inhibitors of telomerase, small molecule inhibitors of hTERT, and telomerase vaccine. In general, telomerase inhibitors affect cell proliferation and survival of cells depending on the telomere length reduction, culminating in replicative senescence or cell death by crisis. However, most telomerase inhibitors kill cancer cells prior to significant reduction in telomere length, suggesting telomere length independent role of telomerase in early telomere dysfunction-dependent cell death. METHODS In this study, we explored the mechanism of cell death induced by three prominent telomerase inhibitors utilizing a series of genetically encoded sensor cells including redox and DNA damage sensor cells. RESULTS We report that telomerase inhibitors induce early cell cycle inhibition, followed by redox alterations at cytosol and mitochondria. Massive mitochondrial oxidation and DNA damage induce classical cell death involving mitochondrial transmembrane potential loss and mitochondrial permeabilization. Real-time imaging of the progression of mitochondrial oxidation revealed that treated cells undergo a biphasic mitochondrial redox alteration during telomerase inhibition, emphasizing the potential role of telomerase in the redox regulation at mitochondria. Additionally, silencing of hTERT confirmed its predominant role in maintaining mitochondrial redox homeostasis. Interestingly, the study also demonstrated that anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins still confer protection against cell death induced by telomerase inhibitors. CONCLUSION The study demonstrates that redox alterations and DNA damage contribute to early cell death by telomerase inhibitors and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins confer protection from cell death by their ability to safeguard mitochondria from oxidation damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aparna Geetha Jayaprasad
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Poojappura, Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram 695014, Kerala, India; PhD Program, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Madhav Nagar, Manipal, Karnataka 576104, India
| | - Aneesh Chandrasekharan
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Poojappura, Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram 695014, Kerala, India
| | - S P Arun Jyothi
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Poojappura, Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram 695014, Kerala, India
| | - S M John Sam
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Poojappura, Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram 695014, Kerala, India
| | - T R Santhoshkumar
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Poojappura, Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram 695014, Kerala, India.
| | - M Radhakrishna Pillai
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Poojappura, Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram 695014, Kerala, India.
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12
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Bertrand A, Ba I, Kermasson L, Pirabakaran V, Chable N, Lainey E, Ménard C, Kallel F, Picard C, Hadiji S, Coolen-Allou N, Blanchard E, de Villartay JP, Moshous D, Roelens M, Callebaut I, Kannengiesser C, Revy P. Characterization of novel mutations in the TEL-patch domain of the telomeric factor TPP1 associated with telomere biology disorders. Hum Mol Genet 2024; 33:612-623. [PMID: 38176734 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddad210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are nucleoprotein structures that protect the chromosome ends from degradation and fusion. Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein complex essential to maintain the length of telomeres. Germline defects that lead to short and/or dysfunctional telomeres cause telomere biology disorders (TBDs), a group of rare and heterogeneous Mendelian diseases including pulmonary fibrosis, dyskeratosis congenita, and Høyeraal-Hreidarsson syndrome. TPP1, a telomeric factor encoded by the gene ACD, recruits telomerase at telomere and stimulates its activity via its TEL-patch domain that directly interacts with TERT, the catalytic subunit of telomerase. TBDs due to TPP1 deficiency have been reported only in 11 individuals. We here report four unrelated individuals with a wide spectrum of TBD manifestations carrying either heterozygous or homozygous ACD variants consisting in the recurrent and previously described in-frame deletion of K170 (K170∆) and three novel missense mutations G179D, L184R, and E215V. Structural and functional analyses demonstrated that the four variants affect the TEL-patch domain of TPP1 and impair telomerase activity. In addition, we identified in the ACD gene several motifs associated with small deletion hotspots that could explain the recurrence of the K170∆ mutation. Finally, we detected in a subset of blood cells from one patient, a somatic TERT promoter-activating mutation that likely provides a selective advantage over non-modified cells, a phenomenon known as indirect somatic genetic rescue. Together, our results broaden the genetic and clinical spectrum of TPP1 deficiency and specify new residues in the TEL-patch domain that are crucial for length maintenance and stability of human telomeres in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Bertrand
- Laboratory of Genome Dynamics in the Immune System, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, 24 boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 75015, France
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
| | - Ibrahima Ba
- Laboratory of Genome Dynamics in the Immune System, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, 24 boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 75015, France
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
- Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Bichat, Service de Génétique, Université Paris Diderot, Paris 75018, France
| | - Laëtitia Kermasson
- Laboratory of Genome Dynamics in the Immune System, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, 24 boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 75015, France
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
| | - Vithura Pirabakaran
- Laboratory of Genome Dynamics in the Immune System, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, 24 boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 75015, France
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
| | - Noémie Chable
- Laboratory of Genome Dynamics in the Immune System, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, 24 boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 75015, France
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
| | - Elodie Lainey
- Hematology Laboratory, Robert Debré Hospital-AssistancePublique-Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP), INSERM UMR 1131-Hematology University Institute-Denis Diderot School of Medicine, Paris 75019, France
| | - Christelle Ménard
- Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Bichat, Service de Génétique, Université Paris Diderot, Paris 75018, France
| | - Faten Kallel
- Hematology Department, Hedi Chaker Hospital, 3029, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Capucine Picard
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
- Department of Pediatric Immunology, Hematology and Rheumatology, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, (APHP), Paris 75015, France
- Centre de références des déficits immunitaires Héréditaires (CEREDIH), Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital APHP, Paris 75015, France
- Laboratory of Lymphocyte Activation and Susceptibility to EBV infection, Inserm UMR 1163, Institut Imagine, Paris 75015, France
| | - Sondes Hadiji
- Hematology Department, Hedi Chaker Hospital, 3029, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Nathalie Coolen-Allou
- Service de Pneumologie, Hôpital Félix Guyon, CHU Réunion, Saint-Denis de la Réunion 97400, France
| | - Elodie Blanchard
- Service de Pneumologie, Hôpital Haut-Lévêque, CHU Bordeaux, Bordeaux 33604, France
| | - Jean-Pierre de Villartay
- Laboratory of Genome Dynamics in the Immune System, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, 24 boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 75015, France
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
| | - Despina Moshous
- Laboratory of Genome Dynamics in the Immune System, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, 24 boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 75015, France
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
- Department of Pediatric Immunology, Hematology and Rheumatology, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, (APHP), Paris 75015, France
| | - Marie Roelens
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
- Centre de références des déficits immunitaires Héréditaires (CEREDIH), Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital APHP, Paris 75015, France
| | - Isabelle Callebaut
- Sorbonne Université, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, UMR CNRS 7590, Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, IMPMC, Paris 75005, France
| | - Caroline Kannengiesser
- Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Bichat, Service de Génétique, Université Paris Diderot, Paris 75018, France
| | - Patrick Revy
- Laboratory of Genome Dynamics in the Immune System, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, 24 boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 75015, France
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
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13
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Zhang J, Ruiz M, Bergh PO, Henricsson M, Stojanović N, Devkota R, Henn M, Bohlooly-Y M, Hernández-Hernández A, Alsheimer M, Borén J, Pilon M, Shibuya H. Regulation of meiotic telomere dynamics through membrane fluidity promoted by AdipoR2-ELOVL2. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2315. [PMID: 38485951 PMCID: PMC10940294 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46718-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The cellular membrane in male meiotic germ cells contains a unique class of phospholipids and sphingolipids that is required for male reproduction. Here, we show that a conserved membrane fluidity sensor, AdipoR2, regulates the meiosis-specific lipidome in mouse testes by promoting the synthesis of sphingolipids containing very-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLC-PUFAs). AdipoR2 upregulates the expression of a fatty acid elongase, ELOVL2, both transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally, to synthesize VLC-PUFA. The depletion of VLC-PUFAs and subsequent accumulation of palmitic acid in AdipoR2 knockout testes stiffens the cellular membrane and causes the invagination of the nuclear envelope. This condition impairs the nuclear peripheral distribution of meiotic telomeres, leading to errors in homologous synapsis and recombination. Further, the stiffened membrane impairs the formation of intercellular bridges and the germ cell syncytium, which disrupts the orderly arrangement of cell types within the seminiferous tubules. According to our findings we propose a framework in which the highly-fluid membrane microenvironment shaped by AdipoR2-ELOVL2 underpins meiosis-specific chromosome dynamics in testes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, 41390, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mario Ruiz
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, 41390, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Per-Olof Bergh
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine/Wallenberg Laboratory, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, 41467, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Marcus Henricsson
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine/Wallenberg Laboratory, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, 41467, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Nena Stojanović
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, 41390, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ranjan Devkota
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, 41390, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Marius Henn
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | | | - Abrahan Hernández-Hernández
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- National Genomics Infrastructure, Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Manfred Alsheimer
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jan Borén
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine/Wallenberg Laboratory, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, 41467, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Marc Pilon
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, 41390, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Hiroki Shibuya
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, 41390, Gothenburg, Sweden.
- Laboratory for Gametogenesis, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), Kobe, Japan.
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14
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Xu M, Senanayaka D, Zhao R, Chigumira T, Tripathi A, Tones J, Lackner RM, Wondisford AR, Moneysmith LN, Hirschi A, Craig S, Alishiri S, O'Sullivan RJ, Chenoweth DM, Reiter NJ, Zhang H. TERRA-LSD1 phase separation promotes R-loop formation for telomere maintenance in ALT cancer cells. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2165. [PMID: 38461301 PMCID: PMC10925046 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46509-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The telomere repeat-containing RNA (TERRA) forms R-loops to promote homology-directed DNA synthesis in the alternative lengthening of telomere (ALT) pathway. Here we report that TERRA contributes to ALT via interacting with the lysine-specific demethylase 1A (LSD1 or KDM1A). We show that LSD1 localizes to ALT telomeres in a TERRA dependent manner and LSD1 function in ALT is largely independent of its demethylase activity. Instead, LSD1 promotes TERRA recruitment to ALT telomeres via RNA binding. In addition, LSD1 and TERRA undergo phase separation, driven by interactions between the RNA binding properties of LSD1 and the G-quadruplex structure of TERRA. Importantly, the formation of TERRA-LSD1 condensates enriches the R-loop stimulating protein Rad51AP1 and increases TERRA-containing R-loops at telomeres. Our findings suggest that LSD1-TERRA phase separation enhances the function of R-loop regulatory molecules for ALT telomere maintenance, providing a mechanism for how the biophysical properties of histone modification enzyme-RNA interactions impact chromatin function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Xu
- Department of Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Dulmi Senanayaka
- Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, 53233, USA
| | - Rongwei Zhao
- Department of Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Tafadzwa Chigumira
- Department of Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Astha Tripathi
- Department of Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Jason Tones
- Department of Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Rachel M Lackner
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19014, USA
| | - Anne R Wondisford
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Laurel N Moneysmith
- Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, 53233, USA
| | - Alexander Hirschi
- Cepheid Diagnostics, 904 E. Caribbean Dr., Sunnyvale, California, 94089, USA
| | - Sara Craig
- Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, 53233, USA
| | - Sahar Alishiri
- Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, 53233, USA
| | - Roderick J O'Sullivan
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - David M Chenoweth
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19014, USA
| | - Nicholas J Reiter
- Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, 53233, USA
| | - Huaiying Zhang
- Department of Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
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15
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Takai H, Aria V, Borges P, Yeeles JTP, de Lange T. CST-polymerase α-primase solves a second telomere end-replication problem. Nature 2024; 627:664-670. [PMID: 38418884 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07137-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Telomerase adds G-rich telomeric repeats to the 3' ends of telomeres1, counteracting telomere shortening caused by loss of telomeric 3' overhangs during leading-strand DNA synthesis ('the end-replication problem'2). Here we report a second end-replication problem that originates from the incomplete duplication of the C-rich telomeric repeat strand (C-strand) by lagging-strand DNA synthesis. This problem is resolved by fill-in synthesis mediated by polymerase α-primase bound to Ctc1-Stn1-Ten1 (CST-Polα-primase). In vitro, priming for lagging-strand DNA replication does not occur on the 3' overhang and lagging-strand synthesis stops in a zone of approximately 150 nucleotides (nt) more than 26 nt from the end of the template. Consistent with the in vitro data, lagging-end telomeres of cells lacking CST-Polα-primase lost 50-60 nt of telomeric CCCTAA repeats per population doubling. The C-strands of leading-end telomeres shortened by around 100 nt per population doubling, reflecting the generation of 3' overhangs through resection. The measured overall C-strand shortening in the absence of CST-Polα-primase fill-in is consistent with the combined effects of incomplete lagging-strand synthesis and 5' resection at the leading ends. We conclude that canonical DNA replication creates two telomere end-replication problems that require telomerase to maintain the G-rich strand and CST-Polα-primase to maintain the C-strand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Takai
- Laboratory for Cell Biology and Genetics, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Valentina Aria
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Pamela Borges
- Laboratory for Cell Biology and Genetics, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joseph T P Yeeles
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Titia de Lange
- Laboratory for Cell Biology and Genetics, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
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16
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Das A, Giri AK, Bhattacharjee P. Targeting 'histone mark': Advanced approaches in epigenetic regulation of telomere dynamics in cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta Gene Regul Mech 2024; 1867:195007. [PMID: 38237857 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2024.195007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Telomere integrity is required for the maintenance of genome stability and prevention of oncogenic transformation of cells. Recent evidence suggests the presence of epigenetic modifications as an important regulator of mammalian telomeres. Telomeric and subtelomeric regions are rich in epigenetic marks that regulate telomere length majorly through DNA methylation and post-translational histone modifications. Specific histone modifying enzymes play an integral role in establishing telomeric histone codes necessary for the maintenance of structural integrity. Alterations of crucial histone moieties and histone modifiers cause deregulations in the telomeric chromatin leading to carcinogenic manifestations. This review delves into the significance of histone modifications and their influence on telomere dynamics concerning cancer. Additionally, it highlights the existing research gaps that hold the potential to drive the development of therapeutic interventions targeting the telomere epigenome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankita Das
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Calcutta, Kolkata 700019, India; Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata 700019, India
| | - Ashok K Giri
- Molecular Genetics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Pritha Bhattacharjee
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Calcutta, Kolkata 700019, India.
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17
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Margiana R, Gupta R, Al-Jewari WM, Hjazi A, Alsaab HO, Mustafa YF, Singh R, Thaibt R, Alkhayyat S, Ibrahim AJ. Evaluation of telomere length, reactive oxygen species, and apoptosis in spermatozoa of patients with oligospermia. Cell Biochem Funct 2024; 42:e3935. [PMID: 38379260 DOI: 10.1002/cbf.3935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
50% of cases of infertility are caused by male factor, which acquired or congenital problems may bring on. Male infertility can be caused by oligospermia and asthenozoospermia, which are common. Since the same mutations that cause azoospermia in some people also cause oligozoospermia in others, oligozoospermia may be thought of as a less severe form of azoospermia. Studies have demonstrated telomere length, catalase activity, super oxide dismutase (SOD), and DNA fragmentation can be influential factors for male infertility. The amount of apoptosis, oxidative stress factors, telomere length, and DNA fragmentation were some aspects of healthy sperm that we chose to look into in this study and compare to oligospermia individuals. Oligospermia patients (n = 24) and fertile men (n = 27) semen samples were collected, and the apoptosis rate of sperms in both groups was analyzed (Flow cytometry). Also, gene expression of apoptotic and antiapoptotic markers and telomere length were examined (real-time polymerase chain reaction). The sperm DNA fragmentation kit was used to determine DNA fragmentation and to evaluate catalase and SOD activity; the specific kits and methods were utilized. Higher expression levels of caspase3 (p = .0042), caspase8 (p = .0145), caspase9 (p = .0275), and BAX (p = .0202) mRNA were observed in patients who had oligospermia. In contrast, lower mRNA expression of BCL-2 (p = .0009) was detected in this group. In addition, telomere length was decreased in the oligospermia group (p < .0001) compared to the health group. Moreover, the frequency of apoptosis is induced in patients (p = .0026). The catalase activity is low (p = .0008), but the SOD activity is high (p = .0015) in the patient group. As a result of our findings, we may list the sperm cell apoptosis rate, telomere length, the degree of sperm DNA fragmentation, and lastly, the measurement of significant and efficient oxidative stress markers like SOD and catalase in semen plasma among the principal diagnostic characteristics for oligospermia. Future studies will be better able to treat oligospermia by showing whether these indicators are rising or falling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ria Margiana
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
- Master's Programme Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
- Andrology Program, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
- Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Reena Gupta
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, GLA University, Bharthia, India
| | | | - Ahmed Hjazi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hashem O Alsaab
- Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Rajesh Singh
- Uttaranchal Institute of Technology, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, India
| | - Ruiscul Thaibt
- Medical Technical College, Al-Farahidi University, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Safa Alkhayyat
- College of Pharmacy, The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq
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18
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Samad MA, Saiman MZ, Abdul Majid N, Karsani SA, Yaacob JS. Berberine and RNAi-Targeting Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT) and/or Telomerase RNA Component (TERC) Caused Oxidation in Colorectal Cancer Cell Line, HCT 116: An Integrative Approach using Molecular and Metabolomic Studies. Cell Biochem Biophys 2024; 82:153-173. [PMID: 38198024 DOI: 10.1007/s12013-023-01210-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common cancer in both men and women and is associated with increased telomerase levels and activity. The potential downstream effects of TERT and/or TERC downregulation by berberine (a telomerase inhibitor) or RNA interference (RNAi) on various target RNAs, proteins, relative telomerase activity (RTA), relative telomere length (RTL), hydrogen peroxide concentration [H2O2], percentage of cell cycle distribution, cell size and granularity as well as cellular metabolites were explored in HCT 116 cell line. Knockdown of TERT decreased TERC. The downregulation of TERT and/or TERC caused increment of [H2O2], G0/G1 phase arrest in addition to decreased S and G2/M phases, as well as diminished cell size. RTL was later reduced as a result of TERT, TERT and/or TERC downregulation which decreased RTA. It was discovered that xanthine oxidase (XO) was significantly and positively correlated at FDR-adjusted p value < 0.05 with RTA, TERT, TERT, TERC, and RTL. HCT 116 with decreased RTA was closely clustered in the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicating similarity of the metabolic profile. A total of 55 metabolites were putatively annotated in this study, potentially associated with RTA levels. The Debiased Sparse Partial Correlation (DSPC) Network revealed that RTA was directly correlated to TERT. There were 4 metabolic pathways significantly affected by low level of RTA which include (1) purine metabolism, (2) glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism, (3) glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, and (4) aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis. The Gene-Metabolite Interaction Network implied that reduced RTA level was related to the mechanism of oxidative stress. This study reveals the linkages between RTA to various selected RNAs, proteins, metabolites, oxidative stress mechanism and subsequently phenotypic changes in HCT 116 which is valuable to understand the intricate biological interactions and mechanism of telomerase in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Azizan Samad
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- INFRA High Impact Research (HIR), HIR Building, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Zuwairi Saiman
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Nazia Abdul Majid
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Saiful Anuar Karsani
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Jamilah Syafawati Yaacob
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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19
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Olson CL, Wuttke DS. Guardians of the Genome: How the Single-Stranded DNA-Binding Proteins RPA and CST Facilitate Telomere Replication. Biomolecules 2024; 14:263. [PMID: 38540683 PMCID: PMC10968030 DOI: 10.3390/biom14030263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Telomeres act as the protective caps of eukaryotic linear chromosomes; thus, proper telomere maintenance is crucial for genome stability. Successful telomere replication is a cornerstone of telomere length regulation, but this process can be fraught due to the many intrinsic challenges telomeres pose to the replication machinery. In addition to the famous "end replication" problem due to the discontinuous nature of lagging strand synthesis, telomeres require various telomere-specific steps for maintaining the proper 3' overhang length. Bulk telomere replication also encounters its own difficulties as telomeres are prone to various forms of replication roadblocks. These roadblocks can result in an increase in replication stress that can cause replication forks to slow, stall, or become reversed. Ultimately, this leads to excess single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) that needs to be managed and protected for replication to continue and to prevent DNA damage and genome instability. RPA and CST are single-stranded DNA-binding protein complexes that play key roles in performing this task and help stabilize stalled forks for continued replication. The interplay between RPA and CST, their functions at telomeres during replication, and their specialized features for helping overcome replication stress at telomeres are the focus of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conner L. Olson
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Deborah S. Wuttke
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
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20
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Kinzig CG, Zakusilo G, Takai KK, Myler LR, de Lange T. ATR blocks telomerase from converting DNA breaks into telomeres. Science 2024; 383:763-770. [PMID: 38359122 DOI: 10.1126/science.adg3224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Telomerase, the enzyme that maintains telomeres at natural chromosome ends, should be repressed at double-strand breaks (DSBs), where neotelomere formation can cause terminal truncations. We developed an assay to detect neotelomere formation at Cas9- or I-SceI-induced DSBs in human cells. Telomerase added telomeric repeats to DSBs, leading to interstitial telomeric repeat insertions or the formation of functional neotelomeres accompanied by terminal deletions. The threat that telomerase poses to genome integrity was minimized by ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase signaling, which inhibited telomerase at resected DSBs. In addition to acting at resected DSBs, telomerase used the extruded strand in the Cas9 enzyme-product complex as a primer for neotelomere formation. We propose that although neotelomere formation is detrimental in normal human cells, it may allow cancer cells to escape from breakage-fusion-bridge cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles G Kinzig
- Laboratory for Cell Biology and Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan Kettering Tri-Institutional MD/PhD Program, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - George Zakusilo
- Laboratory for Cell Biology and Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan Kettering Tri-Institutional MD/PhD Program, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Kaori K Takai
- Laboratory for Cell Biology and Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Logan R Myler
- Laboratory for Cell Biology and Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Titia de Lange
- Laboratory for Cell Biology and Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
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21
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Arnoult N, Cech TR. Telomerase misbehaves after a breakup. Science 2024; 383:702-703. [PMID: 38359118 DOI: 10.1126/science.adn7791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Suppressing telomerase action at broken DNA preserves genome integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nausica Arnoult
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Thomas R Cech
- Department of Biochemistry and BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
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22
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Cozzolino M, Ergun Y, Ristori E, Garg A, Imamoglu G, Seli E. Disruption of mitochondrial unfolded protein response results in telomere shortening in mouse oocytes and somatic cells. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:2047-2060. [PMID: 38349865 PMCID: PMC10911389 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Caseinolytic peptidase P (CLPP) plays a central role in mitochondrial unfolded protein response (mtUPR) by promoting the breakdown of misfolded proteins and setting in motion a cascade of reactions to re-establish protein homeostasis. Global germline deletion of Clpp in mice results in female infertility and accelerated follicular depletion. Telomeres are tandem repeats of 5'-TTAGGG-3' sequences found at the ends of the chromosomes. Telomeres are essential for maintaining chromosome stability during somatic cell division and their shortening is associated with cellular senescence and aging. In this study, we asked whether the infertility and ovarian aging phenotype caused by global germline deletion of Clpp is associated with somatic aging, and tested telomere length in tissues of young and aging mice. We found that impaired mtUPR caused by the lack of CLPP is associated with accelerated telomere shortening in both oocytes and somatic cells of aging mice. In addition, expression of several genes that maintain telomere integrity was decreased, and double-strand DNA breaks were increased in telomeric regions. Our results highlight how impaired mtUPR can affect telomere integrity and demonstrate a link between loss of mitochondrial protein hemostasis, infertility, and somatic aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Cozzolino
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- IVIRMA Global Research Alliance, IVIRMA Roma, Rome, Italy
- IVIRMA Global Research Alliance, Fundacion IVI-IIS la Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Yagmur Ergun
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- IVIRMA Global Research Alliance, IVIRMA New Jersey, Marlton, NJ 08053, USA
| | - Emma Ristori
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Akanksha Garg
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gizem Imamoglu
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Emre Seli
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- IVIRMA Global Research Alliance, IVIRMA New Jersey, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, USA
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23
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Kumar N, Taneja A, Ghosh M, Rothweiler U, Sundaresan N, Singh M. Harmonin homology domain-mediated interaction of RTEL1 helicase with RPA and DNA provides insights into its recruitment to DNA repair sites. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:1450-1470. [PMID: 38153196 PMCID: PMC10853778 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The regulator of telomere elongation helicase 1 (RTEL1) plays roles in telomere DNA maintenance, DNA repair, and genome stability by dismantling D-loops and unwinding G-quadruplex structures. RTEL1 comprises a helicase domain, two tandem harmonin homology domains 1&2 (HHD1 and HHD2), and a Zn2+-binding RING domain. In vitro D-loop disassembly by RTEL1 is enhanced in the presence of replication protein A (RPA). However, the mechanism of RTEL1 recruitment at non-telomeric D-loops remains unknown. In this study, we have unravelled a direct physical interaction between RTEL1 and RPA. Under DNA damage conditions, we showed that RTEL1 and RPA colocalise in the cell. Coimmunoprecipitation showed that RTEL1 and RPA interact, and the deletion of HHDs of RTEL1 significantly reduced this interaction. NMR chemical shift perturbations (CSPs) showed that RPA uses its 32C domain to interact with the HHD2 of RTEL1. Interestingly, HHD2 also interacted with DNA in the in vitro experiments. HHD2 structure was determined using X-ray crystallography, and NMR CSPs mapping revealed that both RPA 32C and DNA competitively bind to HHD2 on an overlapping surface. These results establish novel roles of accessory HHDs in RTEL1's functions and provide mechanistic insights into the RPA-mediated recruitment of RTEL1 to DNA repair sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niranjan Kumar
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560012, India
| | - Arushi Taneja
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560012, India
| | - Meenakshi Ghosh
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560012, India
| | - Ulli Rothweiler
- The Norwegian Structural Biology Centre, Department of Chemistry, The Arctic University of Norway, N-9037, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Mahavir Singh
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560012, India
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24
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Zhao X, Vogirala VK, Liu M, Zhou Y, Rhodes D, Sandin S, Yan J. Exploring TRF2-Dependent DNA Distortion Through Single-DNA Manipulation Studies. Commun Biol 2024; 7:148. [PMID: 38310140 PMCID: PMC10838314 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05838-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
TRF2 is a component of shelterin, a telomere-specific protein complex that protects the ends of mammalian chromosomes from DNA damage signaling and improper repair. TRF2 functions as a homodimer and its interaction with telomeric DNA has been studied, but its full-length DNA-binding properties are unknown. This study examines TRF2's interaction with single-DNA strands and focuses on the conformation of the TRF2-DNA complex and TRF2's preference for DNA chirality. The results show that TRF2-DNA can switch between extended and compact conformations, indicating multiple DNA-binding modes, and TRF2's binding does not have a strong preference for DNA supercoiling chirality when DNA is under low tension. Instead, TRF2 induces DNA bending under tension. Furthermore, both the N-terminal domain of TRF2 and the Myb domain enhance its affinity for the telomere sequence, highlighting the crucial role of multivalent DNA binding in enhancing its affinity and specificity for telomere sequence. These discoveries offer unique insights into TRF2's interaction with telomeric DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodan Zhao
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, 117551, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Vinod Kumar Vogirala
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technology University, 637551, Singapore, Singapore
- Electron Bio-Imaging Centre (eBIC), Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
| | - Meihan Liu
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, 117411, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yu Zhou
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, 117411, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Daniela Rhodes
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technology University, 637551, Singapore, Singapore
- NTU Institute of Structural Biology, Nanyang Technology University, 636921, Singapore, Singapore
- Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sara Sandin
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technology University, 637551, Singapore, Singapore.
- NTU Institute of Structural Biology, Nanyang Technology University, 636921, Singapore, Singapore.
- Umeå university, KBC-huset (KB), Linnaeus väg 10, Umeå, 90187, Sweden.
| | - Jie Yan
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, 117551, Singapore, Singapore.
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, 117411, Singapore, Singapore.
- Joint School of National University of Singapore and Tianjin University, International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City, Fuzhou, 350207, China.
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25
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Zhang J, Zhang F, Porter KI, Dakup PP, Wang S, Robertson GP, Gaddameedhi S, Zhu J. Telomere dysfunction in Tert knockout mice delays Braf V600E -induced melanoma development. Int J Cancer 2024; 154:548-560. [PMID: 37727982 PMCID: PMC10840707 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.34713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Telomerase activation is a crucial step in melanomagenesis, often occurring because of ultraviolet radiation (UVR)-induced mutations at the telomerase gene (TERT) promoter and rendering TERT transcription in response to the activated Raf-MAP kinase pathway by BRAFV600E mutation. Due to the excessively long telomeres in mice, this process does not occur during melanomagenesis in mouse models. To investigate the impact of telomere dysfunction on melanomagenesis, BrafV600E was induced in generations 1 and 4 (G1 and G4) of Tert-/- mice. Our findings revealed that, regardless of UVR exposure, melanoma development was delayed in G4 mice, which had shorter telomeres compared to G1 and wild-type C57BL/6J (G0) mice. Moreover, many G4 tumors displayed an accumulation of excessive DNA damage, as evidenced by increased γH2A.X staining. Tumors from UVR-exposed mice exhibited elevated p53 protein expression. Cultured tumor cells isolated from G4 mice displayed abundant chromosomal fusions and rearrangements, indicative of telomere dysfunction in these cells. Additionally, tumor cells derived from UVB-exposed mice exhibited constitutively elevated expression of mutant p53 proteins, suggesting that p53 was a target of UVB-induced mutagenesis. Taken together, our findings suggest that telomere dysfunction hampers melanomagenesis, and targeting telomere crisis-mediated genomic instability may hold promise for the prevention and treatment of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinglong Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99210, USA
| | - Fan Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99210, USA
| | - Kenneth I. Porter
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99210, USA
| | - Panshak P. Dakup
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99210, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - Shuwen Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99210, USA
| | - Gavin P. Robertson
- Department of Pharmacology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Shobhan Gaddameedhi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - Jiyue Zhu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99210, USA
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26
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Rai R, Sodeinde T, Boston A, Chang S. Telomeres cooperate with the nuclear envelope to maintain genome stability. Bioessays 2024; 46:e2300184. [PMID: 38047499 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202300184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian telomeres have evolved safeguards to prevent their recognition as DNA double-stranded breaks by suppressing the activation of various DNA sensing and repair proteins. We have shown that the telomere-binding proteins TRF2 and RAP1 cooperate to prevent telomeres from undergoing aberrant homology-directed recombination by mediating t-loop protection. Our recent findings also suggest that mammalian telomere-binding proteins interact with the nuclear envelope to maintain chromosome stability. RAP1 interacts with nuclear lamins through KU70/KU80, and disruption of RAP1 and TRF2 function result in nuclear envelope rupture, promoting telomere-telomere recombination to form structures termed ultrabright telomeres. In this review, we discuss the importance of the interactions between shelterin components and the nuclear envelope to maintain telomere homeostasis and genome stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rekha Rai
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Tori Sodeinde
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Ava Boston
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Sandy Chang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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27
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Hourvitz N, Awad A, Tzfati Y. The many faces of the helicase RTEL1 at telomeres and beyond. Trends Cell Biol 2024; 34:109-121. [PMID: 37532653 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2023.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Regulator of telomere elongation 1 (RTEL1) is known as a DNA helicase that is important for telomeres and genome integrity. However, the diverse phenotypes of RTEL1 dysfunction, the wide spectrum of symptoms caused by germline RTEL1 mutations, and the association of RTEL1 mutations with cancers suggest that RTEL1 is a complex machine that interacts with DNA, RNA, and proteins, and functions in diverse cellular pathways. We summarize the proposed functions of RTEL1 and discuss their implications for telomere maintenance. Studying RTEL1 is crucial for understanding the complex interplay between telomere maintenance and other nuclear pathways, and how compromising these pathways causes telomere biology diseases, various aging-associated pathologies, and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noa Hourvitz
- Department of Genetics, The Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Safra Campus, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Aya Awad
- Department of Genetics, The Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Safra Campus, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Yehuda Tzfati
- Department of Genetics, The Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Safra Campus, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
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28
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Benites-Zapata VA, Ulloque-Badaracco JR, Alarcón-Braga EA, Fernández-Alonso AM, López-Baena MT, Pérez-López FR. Telomerase activity and telomere length in women with breast cancer or without malignancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Maturitas 2024; 180:107882. [PMID: 38029511 DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2023.107882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
AIM We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess whether telomerase activity and telomere length are associated with breast cancer. METHODS PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, LILACS, Scielo, Embase, and CNKI databases were searched to obtain relevant articles published through May 10, 2023, following PRISMA guidelines and a registered PROSPERO protocol (CRD42022335402). We included observational studies reporting telomerase activity or telomere length in patients with breast cancer compared with women with benign lesions or normal tissue (control women). The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to evaluate the quality of studies. Data were expressed as odds ratios (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI). Random effects and inverse variance methods were used to meta-analyze associations. The I2 test was used to assess heterogeneity. RESULTS The meta-analysis of telomerase shows significantly greater activity in patients with breast cancer than in those without malignancies (OR = 23.46, 95 % CI 14.07-39.11, p < 0.00001, I2 = 72 %). There were non-significant differences in relative telomere length (OR = 1.16, 95 % CI = 0.90-1.49, p = 0.26, I2 = 86 %) and leukocyte telomere length (OR = 2.32, 95 % CI = 0.89-6.08, p = 0.09, I2 = 98 %) between women with and without breast cancer. In subgroup analyses by world regions of studies, both telomerase activity and telomere length displayed the same trends as in their respective meta-analyses. In sensitivity analyses, variables showed their respective same trends. CONCLUSION Telomerase activity is higher in patients with breast cancer than in women without malignancies. There were no significant differences in either relative telomere length or leukocyte telomere length in women with and without breast cancer. PROSPERO protocol CRD42022335402.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicente A Benites-Zapata
- Unidad de Investigación para la Generación y Síntesis de Evidencias en Salud, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Lima, Peru.
| | | | | | | | | | - Faustino R Pérez-López
- Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud, Zaragoza, Spain; Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
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29
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Abstract
Telomeres and their associated proteins protect the ends of chromosomes to maintain genome stability. Telomeres undergo progressive shortening with each cell division in mammalian somatic cells without telomerase, resulting in genome instability. When telomeres reach a critically short length or are recognized as a damage signal, cells enter a state of senescence, followed by cell cycle arrest, programmed cell death, or immortalization. This review provides an overview of recent advances in the intricate relationship between telomeres and genome instability. Alongside well-established mechanisms such as chromosomal fusion and telomere fusion, we will delve into the perspective on genome stability by examining the role of retrotransposons. Retrotransposons represent an emerging pathway to regulate genome stability through their interactions with telomeres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, Tianjin 300350, China.
| | - Lin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, Tianjin 300350, China; Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, Tianjin 300071, China; Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China; Institute of Translational Medicine, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Nankai University, Tianjin 300000, China.
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30
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Hansson A, Wapstra E, While GM, Olsson M. Sex and early-life conditions shape telomere dynamics in an ectotherm. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb246512. [PMID: 38230426 PMCID: PMC10912812 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Telomeres, the repetitive DNA regions that protect the ends of chromosomes, and their shortening have been linked to key life history trade-offs among growth, reproduction and lifespan. In contrast to most endotherms, many ectotherms can compensate for telomere shortening throughout life by upregulation of telomerase in somatic tissues. However, during development, marked by rapid growth and an increased sensitivity to extrinsic factors, the upregulation of telomerase may be overwhelmed, resulting in long-term impacts on telomere dynamics. In ectotherms, one extrinsic factor that may play a particularly important role in development is temperature. Here, we investigated the influence of developmental temperature and sex on early-life telomere dynamics in an oviparous ectotherm, Lacerta agilis. While there was no effect of developmental temperature on telomere length at hatching, there were subsequent effects on telomere maintenance capacity, with individuals incubated at warm temperatures exhibiting less telomere maintenance compared with cool-incubated individuals. Telomere dynamics were also sexually dimorphic, with females having longer telomeres and greater telomere maintenance compared with males. We suggest that selection drives this sexual dimorphism in telomere maintenance, in which females maximise their lifetime reproductive success by investing in traits promoting longevity such as maintenance, while males invest in short-term reproductive gains through a polygynous mating behaviour. These early-life effects, therefore, have the potential to mediate life-long changes to life histories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Hansson
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Erik Wapstra
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Geoffrey M. While
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Mats Olsson
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
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31
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Lasho T, Patnaik MM. Adaptive and Maladaptive Clonal Hematopoiesis in Telomere Biology Disorders. Curr Hematol Malig Rep 2024; 19:35-44. [PMID: 38095828 DOI: 10.1007/s11899-023-00719-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Telomere biology disorders (TBDs) are germline-inherited conditions characterized by reduction in telomerase function, accelerated shortening of telomeres, predisposition to organ-failure syndromes, and increased risk of neoplasms, especially myeloid malignancies. In normal cells, critically short telomeres trigger apoptosis and/or cellular senescence. However, the evolutionary mechanism by which TBD-related telomerase-deficient cells can overcome this fitness constraint remains elusive. RECENT FINDINGS Preliminary data suggests the existence of adaptive somatic mosaic states characterized by variants in TBD-related genes and maladaptive somatic mosaic states that attempt to overcome hematopoietic fitness constraints by alternative methods leading to clonal hematopoiesis. TBDs are both rare and highly heterogeneous in presentation, and the association of TBD with malignant transformation is unclear. Understanding the clonal complexity and mechanisms behind TBD-associated molecular signatures that lead to somatic adaptation in the setting of defective hematopoiesis will help inform therapy and treatment for this set of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terra Lasho
- Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Mrinal M Patnaik
- Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
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32
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Qin J, Garus A, Autexier C. The C-terminal extension of dyskerin is a dyskeratosis congenita mutational hotspot that modulates interaction with telomerase RNA and subcellular localization. Hum Mol Genet 2024; 33:318-332. [PMID: 37879098 PMCID: PMC10840380 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddad180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Dyskerin is a component of the human telomerase complex and is involved in stabilizing the human telomerase RNA (hTR). Many mutations in the DKC1 gene encoding dyskerin are found in X-linked dyskeratosis congenita (X-DC), a premature aging disorder and other related diseases. The C-terminal extension (CTE) of dyskerin contributes to its interaction with the molecular chaperone SHQ1 during the early stage of telomerase biogenesis. Disease mutations in this region were proposed to disrupt dyskerin-SHQ1 interaction and destabilize dyskerin, reducing hTR levels indirectly. However, biochemical evidence supporting this hypothesis is still lacking. In addition, the effects of many CTE disease mutations on hTR have not been examined. In this study, we tested eight dyskerin CTE variants and showed that they failed to maintain hTR levels. These mutants showed slightly reduced but not abolished interaction with SHQ1, and caused defective binding to hTR. Deletion of the CTE further reduced binding to hTR, and perturbed localization of dyskerin to the Cajal bodies and the nucleolus, and the interaction with TCAB1 as well as GAR1. Our findings suggest impaired dyskerin-hTR interaction in cells as a previously overlooked mechanism through which dyskerin CTE mutations cause X-DC and related telomere syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Qin
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, 3640 University Street, Montreal, Quebec, QC H3A 0C7, Canada
- Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, 3755 Chem, de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Alexandre Garus
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, 3640 University Street, Montreal, Quebec, QC H3A 0C7, Canada
- Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, 3755 Chem, de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Chantal Autexier
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, 3640 University Street, Montreal, Quebec, QC H3A 0C7, Canada
- Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, 3755 Chem, de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada
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33
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Güllülü Ö, Mayer BE, Toplek FB. Linking Gene Fusions to Bone Marrow Failure and Malignant Transformation in Dyskeratosis Congenita. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1606. [PMID: 38338888 PMCID: PMC10855549 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Dyskeratosis Congenita (DC) is a multisystem disorder intrinsically associated with telomere dysfunction, leading to bone marrow failure (BMF). Although the pathology of DC is largely driven by mutations in telomere-associated genes, the implications of gene fusions, which emerge due to telomere-induced genomic instability, remain unexplored. We meticulously analyzed gene fusions in RNA-Seq data from DC patients to provide deeper insights into DC's progression. The most significant DC-specific gene fusions were subsequently put through in silico assessments to ascertain biophysical and structural attributes, including charge patterning, inherent disorder, and propensity for self-association. Selected candidates were then analyzed using deep learning-powered structural predictions and molecular dynamics simulations to gauge their potential for forming higher-order oligomers. Our exploration revealed that genes participating in fusion events play crucial roles in upholding genomic stability, facilitating hematopoiesis, and suppressing tumors. Notably, our analysis spotlighted a particularly disordered polyampholyte fusion protein that exhibits robust higher-order oligomerization dynamics. To conclude, this research underscores the potential significance of several high-confidence gene fusions in the progression of BMF in DC, particularly through the dysregulation of genomic stability, hematopoiesis, and tumor suppression. Additionally, we propose that these fusion proteins might hold a detrimental role, specifically in inducing proteotoxicity-driven hematopoietic disruptions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ömer Güllülü
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Benjamin E. Mayer
- Computational Biology & Simulation, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Fran Bačić Toplek
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
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34
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Liu M, Zhang Y, Jian Y, Gu L, Zhang D, Zhou H, Wang Y, Xu ZX. The regulations of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) in cancer. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:90. [PMID: 38278800 PMCID: PMC10817947 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06454-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Abnormal activation of telomerase occurs in most cancer types, which facilitates escaping from cell senescence. As the key component of telomerase, telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is regulated by various regulation pathways. TERT gene changing in its promoter and phosphorylation respectively leads to TERT ectopic expression at the transcription and protein levels. The co-interacting factors play an important role in the regulation of TERT in different cancer types. In this review, we focus on the regulators of TERT and these downstream functions in cancer regulation. Determining the specific regulatory mechanism will help to facilitate the development of a cancer treatment strategy that targets telomerase and cancer cell senescence. As the most important catalytic subunit component of telomerase, TERT is rapidly regulated by transcriptional factors and PTM-related activation. These changes directly influence TERT-related telomere maintenance by regulating telomerase activity in telomerase-positive cancer cells, telomerase assembly with telomere-binding proteins, and recruiting telomerase to the telomere. Besides, there are also non-canonical functions that are influenced by TERT, including the basic biological functions of cancer cells, such as proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, initiating cell formation, EMT, and cell invasion. Other downstream effects are the results of the influence of transcriptional factors by TERT. Currently, some small molecular inhibitors of TERT and TERT vaccine are under research as a clinical therapeutic target. Purposeful work is in progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingdi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Yuning Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Yongping Jian
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Liting Gu
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Honglan Zhou
- Department of Urology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
| | - Yishu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
| | - Zhi-Xiang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
- Department of Urology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
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35
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Borghini A, Ndreu R, Canale P, Campolo J, Marinaro I, Mercuri A, Turchi S, Andreassi MG. Telomere Length, Mitochondrial DNA, and Micronucleus Yield in Response to Oxidative Stress in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1428. [PMID: 38338706 PMCID: PMC10855977 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Telomere shortening, chromosomal damage, and mitochondrial dysfunction are major initiators of cell aging and biomarkers of many diseases. However, the underlying correlations between nuclear and mitochondrial DNA alterations remain unclear. We investigated the relationship between telomere length (TL) and micronucleus (MN) and their association with mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in response to 100 μM and 200 μM of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at 44, 72, and 96 h. Significant TL shortening was observed after both doses of H2O2 and at all times (all p < 0.05). A concomitant increase in MN was found at 72 h (p < 0.01) and persisted at 96 h (p < 0.01). An increase in mtDNAcn (p = 0.04) at 200 µM of H2O2 was also found. In PBMCs treated with 200 µM H2O2, a significant inverse correlation was found between TL and MN (r = -0.76, p = 0.03), and mtDNA content was directly correlated with TL (r = 0.6, p = 0.04) and inversely related to MN (r = -0.78, p = 0.02). Telomere shortening is the main triggering mechanism of chromosomal damage in stimulated T lymphocytes under oxidative stress. The significant correlations between nuclear DNA damage and mtDNAcn support the notion of a telomere-mitochondria axis that might influence age-associated pathologies and be a target for the development of relevant anti-aging drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Borghini
- CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (R.N.); (P.C.); (I.M.); (A.M.); (S.T.); (M.G.A.)
| | - Rudina Ndreu
- CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (R.N.); (P.C.); (I.M.); (A.M.); (S.T.); (M.G.A.)
| | - Paola Canale
- CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (R.N.); (P.C.); (I.M.); (A.M.); (S.T.); (M.G.A.)
- Health Science Interdisciplinary Center, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Jonica Campolo
- CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, 20142 Milan, Italy;
| | - Irene Marinaro
- CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (R.N.); (P.C.); (I.M.); (A.M.); (S.T.); (M.G.A.)
| | - Antonella Mercuri
- CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (R.N.); (P.C.); (I.M.); (A.M.); (S.T.); (M.G.A.)
| | - Stefano Turchi
- CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (R.N.); (P.C.); (I.M.); (A.M.); (S.T.); (M.G.A.)
| | - Maria Grazia Andreassi
- CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (R.N.); (P.C.); (I.M.); (A.M.); (S.T.); (M.G.A.)
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36
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Thosar SA, Barnes RP, Detwiler A, Bhargava R, Wondisford A, O'Sullivan RJ, Opresko PL. Oxidative guanine base damage plays a dual role in regulating productive ALT-associated homology-directed repair. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113656. [PMID: 38194346 PMCID: PMC10851105 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells maintain telomeres by upregulating telomerase or alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) via homology-directed repair at telomeric DNA breaks. 8-Oxoguanine (8oxoG) is a highly prevalent endogenous DNA lesion in telomeric sequences, altering telomere structure and telomerase activity, but its impact on ALT is unclear. Here, we demonstrate that targeted 8oxoG formation at telomeres stimulates ALT activity and homologous recombination specifically in ALT cancer cells. Mechanistically, an acute 8oxoG induction increases replication stress, as evidenced by increased telomere fragility and ATR kinase activation at ALT telomeres. Furthermore, ALT cells are more sensitive to chronic telomeric 8oxoG damage than telomerase-positive cancer cells, consistent with increased 8oxoG-induced replication stress. However, telomeric 8oxoG production in G2 phase, when ALT telomere elongation occurs, impairs telomeric DNA synthesis. Our study demonstrates that a common oxidative base lesion has a dual role in regulating ALT depending on when the damage arises in the cell cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjana A Thosar
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ryan P Barnes
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ariana Detwiler
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ragini Bhargava
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Anne Wondisford
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Roderick J O'Sullivan
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Patricia L Opresko
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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37
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Kines KJ, Sokolowski M, DeFreece C, Shareef A, deHaro DL, Belancio VP. Large Deletions, Cleavage of the Telomeric Repeat Sequence, and Reverse Transcriptase-Mediated DNA Damage Response Associated with Long Interspersed Element-1 ORF2p Enzymatic Activities. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:143. [PMID: 38397133 PMCID: PMC10887698 DOI: 10.3390/genes15020143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
L1 elements can cause DNA damage and genomic variation via retrotransposition and the generation of endonuclease-dependent DNA breaks. These processes require L1 ORF2p protein that contains an endonuclease domain, which cuts genomic DNA, and a reverse transcriptase domain, which synthesizes cDNA. The complete impact of L1 enzymatic activities on genome stability and cellular function remains understudied, and the spectrum of L1-induced mutations, other than L1 insertions, is mostly unknown. Using an inducible system, we demonstrate that an ORF2p containing functional reverse transcriptase is sufficient to elicit DNA damage response even in the absence of the functional endonuclease. Using a TK/Neo reporter system that captures misrepaired DNA breaks, we demonstrate that L1 expression results in large genomic deletions that lack any signatures of L1 involvement. Using an in vitro cleavage assay, we demonstrate that L1 endonuclease efficiently cuts telomeric repeat sequences. These findings support that L1 could be an unrecognized source of disease-promoting genomic deletions, telomere dysfunction, and an underappreciated source of chronic RT-mediated DNA damage response in mammalian cells. Our findings expand the spectrum of biological processes that can be triggered by functional and nonfunctional L1s, which have impactful evolutionary- and health-relevant consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristine J. Kines
- Department of Structural and Cellular Biology, Tulane School of Medicine, Tulane Cancer Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Mark Sokolowski
- Department of Structural and Cellular Biology, Tulane School of Medicine, Tulane Cancer Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Cecily DeFreece
- Department of Biology, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA 70125, USA
| | - Afzaal Shareef
- Department of Structural and Cellular Biology, Tulane School of Medicine, Tulane Cancer Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Dawn L. deHaro
- Department of Structural and Cellular Biology, Tulane School of Medicine, Tulane Cancer Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Victoria P. Belancio
- Department of Structural and Cellular Biology, Tulane School of Medicine, Tulane Cancer Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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38
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Mori JO, Keegan J, Flynn RL, Heaphy CM. Alternative lengthening of telomeres: mechanism and the pathogenesis of cancer. J Clin Pathol 2024; 77:82-86. [PMID: 37890990 DOI: 10.1136/jcp-2023-209005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Telomere maintenance and elongation allows cells to gain replicative immortality and evade cellular senescence during cancer development. While most cancers use telomerase to maintain telomere lengths, a subset of cancers engage the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway for telomere maintenance. ALT is present in 5%-10% of all cancers, although the prevalence is dramatically higher in certain cancer types, including complex karyotype sarcomas, isocitrate dehydrogenase-mutant astrocytoma (WHO grade II-IV), pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours, neuroblastoma and chromophobe hepatocellular carcinomas. ALT is maintained through a homology-directed DNA repair mechanism. Resembling break-induced replication, this aberrant process results in dramatic cell-to-cell telomere length heterogeneity, widespread chromosomal instability and chronic replication stress. Additionally, ALT-positive cancers frequently harbour inactivating mutations in either chromatin remodelling proteins (ATRX, DAXX and H3F3A) or DNA damage repair factors (SMARCAL1 and SLX4IP). ALT can readily be detected in tissue by assessing the presence of unique molecular characteristics, such as large ultrabright nuclear telomeric foci or partially single-stranded telomeric DNA circles (C-circles). Importantly, ALT has been validated as a robust diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for certain cancer types and may even be exploited as a therapeutic target via small molecular inhibitors and/or synthetic lethality approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joakin O Mori
- Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joshua Keegan
- Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rachel L Flynn
- Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christopher M Heaphy
- Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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39
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Prévot D'Alvise N, Ascensio E, Richard S. Influence of EE2 exposure, age and sex on telomere length in European long-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2024; 346:114419. [PMID: 38040384 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2023.114419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
After a Telomere Lengthening in juvenile stage, a progressive telomere shortening occurs with age despite higher telomerase level. Telomere Length (TL) may also reflect past physiological state such as a chronic chemical stress. Several studies have revealed a correlation between TL, ageing and/or sex in vertebrates, including teleosts; however, the patterns of telomere dynamics with telomerase mRNA expression, sex, lifespan or chemical stress in teleosts are unclear. The first aim of this study is to verify if telomere length is age and sex-dependent. The second aim is to consider if TL is a useful indicator of stress response in European long-snouted seahorse, Hippocampus guttulatus, an ectothermic and non-model system. We showed that after telomere lengthening during the juvenile stage, a telomeric attrition became significant in sexually mature individuals (p = 0.042). TL decreased in older seahorses despite the presence of somatic telomerase mRNA expression at all life stages studied. There was no difference in TL between males and females, but telomerase mRNA expression was consistently higher in females than males. Exposure to EE2 had no effect on TL in young seahorses, but was correlated with a significant increase in telomerase mRNA expression and various physiological disruptions. Here, a growth retardation of -10 % for body length (p = 0.016) and approximately -45 % for mass (p = 0.001) compared to healthy juvenile seahorses was observed. Our data suggest that telomere dynamics alone should not be used as a marker of EE2 exposure in juvenile seahorses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Prévot D'Alvise
- Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO), UMR 7294, Équipe EMBIO, Université de Toulon, CS 60584 - 83 041 Toulon Cedex 9, France.
| | - Eliette Ascensio
- Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO), UMR 7294, Équipe EMBIO, Université de Toulon, CS 60584 - 83 041 Toulon Cedex 9, France
| | - Simone Richard
- Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO), UMR 7294, Équipe EMBIO, Université de Toulon, CS 60584 - 83 041 Toulon Cedex 9, France
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40
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Lyčka M, Bubeník M, Závodník M, Peska V, Fajkus P, Demko M, Fajkus J, Fojtová M. TeloBase: a community-curated database of telomere sequences across the tree of life. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:D311-D321. [PMID: 37602392 PMCID: PMC10767889 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Discoveries over the recent decade have demonstrated the unexpected diversity of telomere DNA motifs in nature. However, currently available resources, 'Telomerase database' and 'Plant rDNA database', contain just fragments of all relevant literature published over decades of telomere research as they have a different primary focus and limited updates. To fill this gap, we gathered data about telomere DNA sequences from a thorough literature screen as well as by analysing publicly available NGS data, and we created TeloBase (http://cfb.ceitec.muni.cz/telobase/) as a comprehensive database of information about telomere motif diversity. TeloBase is supplemented by internal taxonomy utilizing popular on-line taxonomic resources that enables in-house data filtration and graphical visualisation of telomere DNA evolutionary dynamics in the form of heat tree plots. TeloBase avoids overreliance on administrators for future data updates by having a simple form and community-curation system for application and approval, respectively, of new telomere sequences by users, which should ensure timeliness of the database and topicality. To demonstrate TeloBase utility, we examined telomere motif diversity in species from the fungal genus Aspergillus, and discovered (TTTATTAGGG)n sequence as a putative telomere motif in the plant family Chrysobalanaceae. This was bioinformatically confirmed by analysing template regions of identified telomerase RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Lyčka
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Masaryk University, BrnoCZ-62500, Czech Republic
- National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, BrnoCZ-62500, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Bubeník
- National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, BrnoCZ-62500, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Závodník
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Masaryk University, BrnoCZ-62500, Czech Republic
- National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, BrnoCZ-62500, Czech Republic
| | - Vratislav Peska
- Department of Cell Biology and Radiobiology, Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, BrnoCZ-61200, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Fajkus
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Masaryk University, BrnoCZ-62500, Czech Republic
- Department of Cell Biology and Radiobiology, Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, BrnoCZ-61200, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Demko
- Core Facility Bioinformatics, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Masaryk University, BrnoCZ-62500, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University, BrnoCZ-62500, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Fajkus
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Masaryk University, BrnoCZ-62500, Czech Republic
- National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, BrnoCZ-62500, Czech Republic
- Department of Cell Biology and Radiobiology, Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, BrnoCZ-61200, Czech Republic
| | - Miloslava Fojtová
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Masaryk University, BrnoCZ-62500, Czech Republic
- National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, BrnoCZ-62500, Czech Republic
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Muyas F, Rodriguez MJG, Cascão R, Afonso A, Sauer CM, Faria CC, Cortés-Ciriano I, Flores I. The ALT pathway generates telomere fusions that can be detected in the blood of cancer patients. Nat Commun 2024; 15:82. [PMID: 38167290 PMCID: PMC10762111 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44287-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Telomere fusions (TFs) can trigger the accumulation of oncogenic alterations leading to malignant transformation and drug resistance. Despite their relevance in tumour evolution, our understanding of the patterns and consequences of TFs in human cancers remains limited. Here, we characterize the rates and spectrum of somatic TFs across >30 cancer types using whole-genome sequencing data. TFs are pervasive in human tumours with rates varying markedly across and within cancer types. In addition to end-to-end fusions, we find patterns of TFs that we mechanistically link to the activity of the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway. We show that TFs can be detected in the blood of cancer patients, which enables cancer detection with high specificity and sensitivity even for early-stage tumours and cancers of high unmet clinical need. Overall, we report a genomic footprint that enables characterization of the telomere maintenance mechanism of tumours and liquid biopsy analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesc Muyas
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
| | | | - Rita Cascão
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Angela Afonso
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carolin M Sauer
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Claudia C Faria
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte (CHULN), Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Isidro Cortés-Ciriano
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK.
| | - Ignacio Flores
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Madrid, 28029, Spain.
- Centro de Biologia Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Cantoblanco, Madrid, 28049, Spain.
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Spegg V, Altmeyer M. Genome maintenance meets mechanobiology. Chromosoma 2024; 133:15-36. [PMID: 37581649 PMCID: PMC10904543 DOI: 10.1007/s00412-023-00807-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Genome stability is key for healthy cells in healthy organisms, and deregulated maintenance of genome integrity is a hallmark of aging and of age-associated diseases including cancer and neurodegeneration. To maintain a stable genome, genome surveillance and repair pathways are closely intertwined with cell cycle regulation and with DNA transactions that occur during transcription and DNA replication. Coordination of these processes across different time and length scales involves dynamic changes of chromatin topology, clustering of fragile genomic regions and repair factors into nuclear repair centers, mobilization of the nuclear cytoskeleton, and activation of cell cycle checkpoints. Here, we provide a general overview of cell cycle regulation and of the processes involved in genome duplication in human cells, followed by an introduction to replication stress and to the cellular responses elicited by perturbed DNA synthesis. We discuss fragile genomic regions that experience high levels of replication stress, with a particular focus on telomere fragility caused by replication stress at the ends of linear chromosomes. Using alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) in cancer cells and ALT-associated PML bodies (APBs) as examples of replication stress-associated clustered DNA damage, we discuss compartmentalization of DNA repair reactions and the role of protein properties implicated in phase separation. Finally, we highlight emerging connections between DNA repair and mechanobiology and discuss how biomolecular condensates, components of the nuclear cytoskeleton, and interfaces between membrane-bound organelles and membraneless macromolecular condensates may cooperate to coordinate genome maintenance in space and time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Spegg
- Department of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Altmeyer
- Department of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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43
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Wong SY, Soman A, Korolev N, Surya W, Chen Q, Shum W, van Noort J, Nordenskiöld L. The shelterin component TRF2 mediates columnar stacking of human telomeric chromatin. EMBO J 2024; 43:87-111. [PMID: 38177309 PMCID: PMC10883271 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-023-00002-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Telomere repeat binding factor 2 (TRF2) is an essential component of the telomeres and also plays an important role in a number of other non-telomeric processes. Detailed knowledge of the binding and interaction of TRF2 with telomeric nucleosomes is limited. Here, we study the binding of TRF2 to in vitro-reconstituted kilobasepair-long human telomeric chromatin fibres using electron microscopy, single-molecule force spectroscopy and analytical ultracentrifugation sedimentation velocity. Our electron microscopy results revealed that full-length and N-terminally truncated TRF2 promote the formation of a columnar structure of the fibres with an average width and compaction larger than that induced by the addition of Mg2+, in agreement with the in vivo observations. Single-molecule force spectroscopy showed that TRF2 increases the mechanical and thermodynamic stability of the telomeric fibres when stretched with magnetic tweezers. This was in contrast to the result for fibres reconstituted on the 'Widom 601' high-affinity nucleosome positioning sequence, where minor effects on fibre stability were observed. Overall, TRF2 binding induces and stabilises columnar fibres, which may play an important role in telomere maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sook Yi Wong
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637551, Singapore
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS, Medical School, Singapore, 169857, Singapore
| | - Aghil Soman
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637551, Singapore
| | - Nikolay Korolev
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637551, Singapore
| | - Wahyu Surya
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637551, Singapore
| | - Qinming Chen
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637551, Singapore
- M Diagnostics PTE. LTD, 30 Biopolis Street, Matrix, Singapore, 138671, Singapore
| | - Wayne Shum
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637551, Singapore
| | - John van Noort
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637551, Singapore
- Huygens-Kamerlingh Ones Laboratory, Leiden University, Leiden, 2333 AL, The Netherlands
| | - Lars Nordenskiöld
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637551, Singapore.
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Shiekh S, Kodikara SG, Balci H. Structure, Topology, and Stability of Multiple G-quadruplexes in Long Telomeric Overhangs. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168205. [PMID: 37481156 PMCID: PMC10799177 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres and their single stranded overhangs gradually shorten with successive cell divisions, as part of the natural aging process, but can be elongated by telomerase, a nucleoprotein complex which is activated in the majority of cancers. This prominent implication in cancer and aging has made the repetitive telomeric sequences (TTAGGG repeats) and the G-quadruplex structures that form in their overhangs the focus of intense research in the past several decades. However, until recently most in vitro efforts to understand the structure, stability, dynamics, and interactions of telomeric overhangs had been focused on short sequences that are not representative of longer sequences encountered in a physiological setting. In this review, we will provide a broad perspective about telomeres and associated factors, and introduce the agents and structural characteristics involved in organizing, maintaining, and protecting telomeric DNA. We will also present a summary of recent research performed on long telomeric sequences, nominally defined as those that can form two or more tandem G-quadruplexes, i.e., which contain eight or more TTAGGG repeats. Results of experimental studies using a broad array of experimental tools, in addition to recent computational efforts will be discussed, particularly in terms of their implications for the stability, folding topology, and compactness of the tandem G-quadruplexes that form in long telomeric overhangs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajad Shiekh
- Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | | | - Hamza Balci
- Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA.
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45
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Neumann H, Bartle L, Bonnell E, Wellinger RJ. Ratcheted transport and sequential assembly of the yeast telomerase RNP. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113565. [PMID: 38096049 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The telomerase ribonucleoprotein particle (RNP) replenishes telomeric DNA and minimally requires an RNA component and a catalytic protein subunit. However, telomerase RNP maturation is an intricate process occurring in several subcellular compartments and is incompletely understood. Here, we report how the co-transcriptional association of key telomerase components and nuclear export factors leads to an export-competent, but inactive, RNP. Export is dependent on the 5' cap, the 3' extension of unprocessed telomerase RNA, and protein associations. When the RNP reaches the cytoplasm, an extensive protein swap occurs, the RNA is trimmed to its mature length, and the essential catalytic Est2 protein joins the RNP. This mature and active complex is then reimported into the nucleus as its final destination and last processing steps. The irreversible processing events on the RNA thus support a ratchet-type model of telomerase maturation, with only a single nucleo-cytoplasmic cycle that is essential for the assembly of mature telomerase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Neumann
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 3201 Rue Jean Mignault, Sherbrooke, QC J1E 4K8, Canada
| | - Louise Bartle
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 3201 Rue Jean Mignault, Sherbrooke, QC J1E 4K8, Canada; Research Center on Aging (CdRV), 1036 rue Belvedere Sud, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 4C4, Canada
| | - Erin Bonnell
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 3201 Rue Jean Mignault, Sherbrooke, QC J1E 4K8, Canada
| | - Raymund J Wellinger
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 3201 Rue Jean Mignault, Sherbrooke, QC J1E 4K8, Canada; Research Center on Aging (CdRV), 1036 rue Belvedere Sud, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 4C4, Canada.
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46
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Klump BM, Schmidt JC. Advances in understanding telomerase assembly. Biochem Soc Trans 2023; 51:2093-2101. [PMID: 38108475 PMCID: PMC10754283 DOI: 10.1042/bst20230269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Telomerase is a complex ribonucleoprotein scaffolded by the telomerase RNA (TR). Telomere lengthening by telomerase is essential to maintain the proliferative potential of stem cells and germ cells, and telomerase is inappropriately activated in the majority of cancers. Assembly of TR with its 12 protein co-factors and the maturation of the 5'- and 3'-ends of TR have been the focus of intense research efforts over the past two decades. High-resolution Cryo-EM structures of human telomerase, high-throughput sequencing of the 3' end of TR, and live cell imaging of various telomerase components have significantly advanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that govern telomerase biogenesis, yet many important questions remain unaddressed. In this review, we will summarize these recent advances and highlight the remaining key questions with the ultimate goal of targeting telomerase assembly to suppress telomere maintenance in cancer cells or to promote telomerase activity in patients affected by telomere shortening disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basma M. Klump
- Institute for Quantitative Health Sciences and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, U.S.A
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, U.S.A
- Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, College of Natural Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, U.S.A
| | - Jens C. Schmidt
- Institute for Quantitative Health Sciences and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, U.S.A
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, U.S.A
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47
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Zhao R, Kou H, Jiang D, Wang F. Exploring the anti-aging effects of fisetin in telomerase-deficient progeria mouse model. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16463. [PMID: 38107570 PMCID: PMC10722989 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is a natural and complex process characterized by the gradual deterioration of tissue and physiological functions in the organism over time. Cell senescence, a hallmark of aging, refers to the permanent and irreversible cell cycle arrest of proliferating cells triggered by endogenous stimuli or environmental stresses. Eliminating senescent cells has been shown to extend the healthy lifespan. In this study, we established a progeria mouse model with telomerase deficiency and confirmed the presence of shortened telomere length and increased expression of aging markers p16INK4a and p21CIP1 in the organ tissues of G3 Tert-/- mice. We identified fisetin as a potent senolytic drug capable of reversing premature aging signs in telomerase-deficient mice. Fisetin treatment effectively suppressed the upregulation of aging markers p16INK4a and p21CIP1 and reduced collagen fiber deposition. Furthermore, we observed a significant elevation in the mRNA level of Stc1 in G3Tert-/- mice, which was reduced after fisetin treatment. Stc1 has been implicated in anti-apoptotic processes through the upregulation of the Akt signaling pathway. Our findings reveal that fisetin exerts its anti-aging effect by inhibiting the Akt signaling pathway through the suppression of Stc1 expression, leading to the apoptosis of senescent cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhao
- Department of Genetics, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Haomeng Kou
- Department of Genetics, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Duo Jiang
- Department of Genetics, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Department of Genetics, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Institute of Prosthodontics School and Hospital of Stomatology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
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48
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Braun H, Xu Z, Chang F, Viceconte N, Rane G, Levin M, Lototska L, Roth F, Hillairet A, Fradera-Sola A, Khanchandani V, Sin ZW, Yong WK, Dreesen O, Yang Y, Shi Y, Li F, Butter F, Kappei D. ZNF524 directly interacts with telomeric DNA and supports telomere integrity. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8252. [PMID: 38086788 PMCID: PMC10716145 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43397-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are nucleoprotein structures at the ends of linear chromosomes. In humans, they consist of TTAGGG repeats, which are bound by dedicated proteins such as the shelterin complex. This complex blocks unwanted DNA damage repair at telomeres, e.g. by suppressing nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) through its subunit TRF2. Here, we describe ZNF524, a zinc finger protein that directly binds telomeric repeats with nanomolar affinity, and reveal base-specific sequence recognition by cocrystallization with telomeric DNA. ZNF524 localizes to telomeres and specifically maintains the presence of the TRF2/RAP1 subcomplex at telomeres without affecting other shelterin members. Loss of ZNF524 concomitantly results in an increase in DNA damage signaling and recombination events. Overall, ZNF524 is a direct telomere-binding protein involved in the maintenance of telomere integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Braun
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Ziyan Xu
- MOE Key Laboratory for Cellular Dynamics, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Fiona Chang
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | | | - Grishma Rane
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | - Michal Levin
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | | | - Franziska Roth
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Alexia Hillairet
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | | | - Vartika Khanchandani
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | - Zi Wayne Sin
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | - Wai Khang Yong
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117596, Singapore
| | - Oliver Dreesen
- Cell Aging Laboratory, A*STAR Skin Research Labs, Singapore, 138648, Singapore
| | - Yang Yang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Cellular Dynamics, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yunyu Shi
- MOE Key Laboratory for Cellular Dynamics, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Fudong Li
- MOE Key Laboratory for Cellular Dynamics, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
| | - Falk Butter
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, 55128, Germany.
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology (IMVZ), Friedrich Loeffler Institute, Greifswald, 17493, Germany.
| | - Dennis Kappei
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599, Singapore.
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117596, Singapore.
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599, Singapore.
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49
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Faria JRC, Tinti M, Marques CA, Zoltner M, Yoshikawa H, Field MC, Horn D. An allele-selective inter-chromosomal protein bridge supports monogenic antigen expression in the African trypanosome. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8200. [PMID: 38081826 PMCID: PMC10713589 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44043-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
UPF1-like helicases play roles in telomeric heterochromatin formation and X-chromosome inactivation, and also in monogenic variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) expression via VSG exclusion-factor-2 (VEX2), a UPF1-related protein in the African trypanosome. We show that VEX2 associates with chromatin specifically at the single active VSG expression site on chromosome 6, forming an allele-selective connection, via VEX1, to the trans-splicing locus on chromosome 9, physically bridging two chromosomes and the VSG transcription and splicing compartments. We further show that the VEX-complex is multimeric and self-regulates turnover to tightly control its abundance. Using single cell transcriptomics following VEX2-depletion, we observed simultaneous derepression of many other telomeric VSGs and multi-allelic VSG expression in individual cells. Thus, an allele-selective, inter-chromosomal, and self-limiting VEX1-2 bridge supports monogenic VSG expression and multi-allelic VSG exclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana R C Faria
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
- Biology Department, University of York, York, UK.
- York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, York, UK.
| | - Michele Tinti
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Catarina A Marques
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Martin Zoltner
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
- Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Biocev, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Harunori Yoshikawa
- Gene Regulation and Expression, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
- Division of Cell Signaling, Fujii Memorial Institute of Medical Sciences, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Mark C Field
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
- Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Parasitology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - David Horn
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
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