An intramolecular G-quadruplex structure is required for binding of telomeric repeat-containing RNA to the telomeric protein TRF2.
Telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA) is important for telomere regulation, but the structural basis for how TERRA localizes to chromosome ends is unknown. Here we report on studies exploring whether the TERRA G-quadruplex structure is critical for binding to telomeres. We demonstrate that the telomeric protein TRF2 binds TERRA via interactions that necessitate the formation of a G-quadruplex structure rather than the TERRA sequence per se. We also show that TRF2 simultaneously binds TERRA and telomeric duplex or G-quadruplex DNA. These observations suggest that the TERRA G-quadruplex is a key feature of telomere organization.
Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK.
Giulia
G
Biffi
David
D
Tannahill
Shankar
S
Balasubramanian
D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D054856:G-Quadruplexes; D006801:Humans; D011485:Protein Binding; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016615:Telomere / Q000378:metabolism*; D035341:Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 2 / Q000378:metabolism*
D035341:Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 2; D012313:RNA