title: DNA damage processing at telomeres: The ends justify the means.
abstract: Telomeres at chromosome ends are nucleoprotein structures consisting of tandem TTAGGG repeats and a complex of proteins termed shelterin. DNA damage and repair at telomeres is uniquely influenced by the ability of telomeric DNA to form alternate structures including loops and G-quadruplexes, coupled with the ability of shelterin proteins to interact with and regulate enzymes in every known DNA repair pathway. The role of shelterin proteins in preventing telomeric ends from being falsely recognized and processed as DNA double strand breaks is well established. Here we focus instead on recent developments in understanding the roles of shelterin proteins and telomeric DNA sequence and structure in processing genuine damage at telomeres induced by endogenous and exogenous DNA damage agents. We will highlight advances in double strand break repair, base excision repair and nucleotide excision repair at telomeres, and will discuss important questions remaining in the field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Research Pavilion, 5117 Centre Avenue, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States.
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fouquerel
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Research Pavilion, 5117 Centre Avenue, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States.
authors.forename: Dhvani
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Parikh
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Research Pavilion, 5117 Centre Avenue, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States. Electronic address: plo4@pitt.edu.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Opresko
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D053903:DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded; D045647:DNA Glycosylases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004260:DNA Repair; D004261:DNA Replication; D054856:G-Quadruplexes; D006801:Humans; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000089804:Shelterin Complex; D016615:Telomere / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D059505:Telomere Homeostasis; D034501:Telomere-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D021122:Protein Subunits; D000089804:Shelterin Complex; D034501:Telomere-Binding Proteins; D004247:DNA; D045647:DNA Glycosylases; C473634:NEIL1 protein, human
keywords: Base excision repair; DNA damage; DNA repair; Double strand break repair; G-quadruplex; Nucleotide excision repair; Shelterin proteins; Telomeres