title: Linear chromosome maintenance in the absence of essential telomere-capping proteins.
abstract: Telomeres were defined by their ability to cap chromosome ends. Proteins with high affinity for the structure at chromosome ends, binding the G-rich, 3' single-stranded overhang at telomeres include Pot1 in humans and fission yeast, TEBP in Oxytricha nova and Cdc13 in budding yeast. Cdc13 is considered essential for telomere capping because budding yeast that lack Cdc13 rapidly accumulate excessive single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) at telomeres, arrest cell division and die. Cdc13 has a separate, critical role in telomerase recruitment to telomeres. Here, we show that neither Cdc13 nor its partner Stn1 are necessary for telomere capping if nuclease activities that are active at uncapped telomeres are attenuated. Recombination-dependent and -independent mechanisms permit maintenance of chromosomes without Cdc13. Our results indicate that the structure of the eukaryotic telomere cap is remarkably flexible and that changes in the DNA damage response allow alternative strategies for telomere capping to evolve.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Ageing and Health, Henry Wellcome Laboratory for Biogerontology Research, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6BE, UK.
authors.forename: Mikhajlo K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Zubko
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lydall
mesh_terms: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000502:physiology; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000502:physiology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D034501:Telomere-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C452219:Cdc13 protein, S cerevisiae; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; C428109:Stn1 protein, S cerevisiae; D034501:Telomere-Binding Proteins