title: Role for the related poly(ADP-Ribose) polymerases tankyrase 1 and 2 at human telomeres.
abstract: Telomere maintenance is essential for the continuous growth of tumor cells. In most human tumors telomeres are maintained by telomerase, a specialized reverse transcriptase. Tankyrase 1, a human telomeric poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), positively regulates telomere length through its interaction with TRF1, a telomeric DNA-binding protein. Tankyrase 1 ADP-ribosylates TRF1, inhibiting its binding to telomeric DNA. Overexpression of tankyrase 1 in the nucleus promotes telomere elongation, suggesting that tankyrase 1 regulates access of telomerase to the telomeric complex. The recent identification of a closely related homolog of tankyrase 1, tankyrase 2, opens the possibility for a second PARP at telomeres. We therefore sought to establish the role of tankyrase 1 at telomeres and to determine if tankyrase 2 might have a telomeric function. We show that endogenous tankyrase 1 is a component of the human telomeric complex. We demonstrate that telomere elongation by tankyrase 1 requires the catalytic activity of the PARP domain and does not occur in telomerase-negative primary human cells. To investigate a potential role for tankyrase 2 at telomeres, recombinant tankyrase 2 was subjected to an in vitro PARP assay. Tankyrase 2 poly(ADP-ribosyl)ated itself and TRF1. Overexpression of tankyrase 2 in the nucleus released endogenous TRF1 from telomeres. These findings establish tankyrase 2 as a bona fide PARP, with itself and TRF1 as acceptors of ADP-ribosylation, and suggest the possibility of a role for tankyrase 2 at telomeres.
authors.affiliation: The Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA.
authors.forename: Brandoch D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Jasmin N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Dynek
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Grigoriy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shostak
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D038501:Tankyrases; D016615:Telomere / Q000378:metabolism*; D035321:Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 1; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D020798:Two-Hybrid System Techniques
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D038501:Tankyrases; D035321:Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 1; C437334:TNKS2 protein, human; C418109:TNKS protein, human