title: How homologous recombination maintains telomere integrity.
abstract: Telomeres protect the ends of linear chromosomes against loss of genetic information and inappropriate processing as damaged DNA and are therefore crucial to the maintenance of chromosome integrity. In addition to providing a pathway for genome-wide DNA repair, homologous recombination (HR) plays a key role in telomere replication and capping. Consistent with this, the genomic instability characteristic of HR-deficient cells and tumours is driven in part by telomere dysfunction. Here, we discuss the mechanisms by which HR modulates the response to intrinsic cellular challenges that arise during telomere replication, as well as its impact on the assembly of telomere protective structures. How normal and tumour cells differ in their ability to maintain telomeres is deeply relevant to the search for treatments that would selectively eliminate cells whose capacity for HR-mediated repair has been compromised.
authors.affiliation: Telomere and Genome Stability Group, The CRUK-MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, UK.
authors.forename: Eliana M C
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Tacconi
authors.forename: Madalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tarsounas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D004249:DNA Damage; D004260:DNA Repair; D004261:DNA Replication; D042822:Genomic Instability; D059765:Homologous Recombination / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008322:Mammals / Q000235:genetics; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D000089804:Shelterin Complex; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D034501:Telomere-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000089804:Shelterin Complex; D034501:Telomere-Binding Proteins; D004247:DNA