title: Block in anaphase chromosome separation caused by a telomerase template mutation.
abstract: Telomeres are essential for chromosome stability, but their functions at specific cell-cycle stages are unknown. Telomeres are now shown to have a role in chromosome separation during mitosis. In telomeric DNA mutants of Tetrahymena thermophila, created by expression of a telomerase RNA with an altered template sequence, division of the germline nucleus was severely delayed or blocked in anaphase. The mutant chromatids failed to separate completely at the midzone, becoming stretched to up to twice their normal length. These results suggest a physical block in mutant telomere separation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143-0414, USA.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Harmon
authors.forename: I K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Reichardt
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Sedat
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Blackburn
mesh_terms: D000705:Anaphase; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002842:Chromatids / Q000502:physiology; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D048631:Micronucleus, Germline / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008940:Mitotic Index; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D016053:RNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013698:Templates, Genetic; D016808:Tetrahymena thermophila / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D016053:RNA, Protozoan; D019098:Telomerase