Pot1 deficiency initiates DNA damage checkpoint activation and aberrant homologous recombination at telomeres.
The terminal t-loop structure adopted by mammalian telomeres is thought to prevent telomeres from being recognized as double-stranded DNA breaks by sequestering the 3' single-stranded G-rich overhang from exposure to the DNA damage machinery. The POT1 (protection of telomeres) protein binds the single-stranded overhang and is required for both chromosomal end protection and telomere length regulation. The mouse genome contains two POT1 orthologs, Pot1a and Pot1b. Here we show that conditional deletion of Pot1a elicits a DNA damage response at telomeres, resulting in p53-dependent replicative senescence. Pot1a-deficient cells exhibit overall telomere length and 3' overhang elongation as well as aberrant homologous recombination (HR) at telomeres, manifested as increased telomere sister chromatid exchanges and formation of telomere circles. Telomeric HR following Pot1a loss requires NBS1. Pot1a deletion also results in chromosomal instability. Our results suggest that POT1a is crucial for the maintenance of both telomere integrity and overall genomic stability.
Wu
Ling
L
Department of Molecular Genetics, Box 1006, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Multani
Asha S
AS
He
Hua
H
Cosme-Blanco
Wilfredo
W
Deng
Yu
Y
Deng
Jian Min
JM
Bachilo
Olga
O
Pathak
Sen
S
Tahara
Hedioshi
H
Bailey
Susan M
SM
Deng
Yibin
Y
Behringer
Richard R
RR
Chang
Sandy
S
D000818:Animals; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000235:genetics; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000235:genetics*; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020868:Gene Silencing / Q000502:physiology; D018816:Genes, cdc / Q000502:physiology*; D042822:Genomic Instability / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D017385:Sequence Homology; D000089804:Shelterin Complex; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange / Q000235:genetics; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics*; D034501:Telomere-Binding Proteins
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C466108:Nijmegen breakage syndrome 1 protein, mouse; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C507326:POT1 protein, mouse; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D000089804:Shelterin Complex; D034501:Telomere-Binding Proteins