Telomeric chromatin: replicating and wrapping up chromosome ends.
Recent advances in our understanding of the specialized chromatin structure at telomeres, the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes, have focused on three separate areas: replication of telomeres through the coordinated action of conventional DNA polymerases and the telomerase enzyme, protection of the chromosome end from DNA damage checkpoint sensors and DNA-repair processes, and the discovery of a novel deacetylase enzyme (Sir2p) required for the establishment and maintenance of telomeric heterochromatin. Although the number of proteins and the complexity of their interactions at telomeres continues to grow, a picture of at least some of the major players and mechanisms underlying telomere replication, end 'capping' and chromatin assembly is beginning to emerge.
University of Geneva, Switzerland. david.shore@molbio.unige.ch
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D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004261:DNA Replication; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006655:Histone Deacetylases / Q000378:metabolism; D011487:Protein Conformation; D038281:Silent Information Regulator Proteins, Saccharomyces cerevisiae; D056565:Sirtuin 2; D037761:Sirtuins; D019098:Telomerase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016615:Telomere / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D015003:Yeasts / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D002843:Chromatin; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D038281:Silent Information Regulator Proteins, Saccharomyces cerevisiae; D015534:Trans-Activators; D019098:Telomerase; C087778:SIR2 protein, S cerevisiae; D056565:Sirtuin 2; D037761:Sirtuins; D006655:Histone Deacetylases