Telomere-associated chromosome breakage in fission yeast results in variegated expression of adjacent genes.
The sequence requirements for in vivo telomere function in the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, have been investigated. A 258 bp tract of previously characterized cloned fission yeast terminal repeats adjacent to 800 bp of telomere-associated sequences is sufficient to seed new telomeres onto linearized ars-containing plasmids when introduced into cells. The resulting transformants contain unrearranged, acentric, linear episomes. Cloned telomeres, with and without telomere-associated sequences adjacent to the 258 bp terminal repeats, were utilized to introduce chromosome breaks at specific sites in a non-essential minichromosome. Truncated minichromosome derivatives were recovered containing the ura4 or ade6 gene adjacent to a newly formed telomere. These telomeres exert reversible position effects on the expression of the adjacent ura4 or ade6 genes.
Nimmo
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MRC Human Genetics Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK.
Cranston
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Allshire
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D000225:Adenine / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000235:genetics*; D004274:DNA, Recombinant / Q000235:genetics; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D005111:Extrachromosomal Inheritance; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D005800:Genes, Fungal / Q000235:genetics*; D007930:Leucine / Q000378:metabolism; D009963:Orotic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D012331:RNA, Fungal / Q000032:analysis; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D014498:Uracil / Q000378:metabolism
D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D012331:RNA, Fungal; D014498:Uracil; D009963:Orotic Acid; C001242:5-fluoroorotic acid; D007930:Leucine; D000225:Adenine