title: A DNA-hairpin model for repeat-addition processivity in telomere synthesis.
abstract: We propose a DNA-hairpin model for the processivity of telomeric-repeat addition. Concomitantly with template-RNA translocation after each repeat synthesis, the complementary DNA repeat, for example, AGGGTT, loops out in a noncanonical base-paired hairpin, thus freeing the RNA template for the next round of repeat synthesis. The DNA hairpin is temporarily stabilized by telomerase and the incoming dGTP but becomes realigned for processive telomere synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Well-Aging Research Center, Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Sam
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D055029:Inverted Repeat Sequences; D008954:Models, Biological; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism; D016615:Telomere / Q000378:metabolism*; D059505:Telomere Homeostasis
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; D019098:Telomerase