Abstract
A central function of telomeres is to prevent chromosome ends from being recognized as DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Several proteins involved in processing DSBs associate with telomeres, but the roles of these factors at telomeres are largely unknown. To investigate whether the Mre11/Rad50/Nbs1 (MRN) complex is involved in the generation of proper 3′ G-overhangs at human telomere ends, we used RNA interference to decrease expression of MRN and analysed their effects. Reduction of MRN resulted in a transient shortening of G-overhang length in telomerase-positive cells. The terminal nucleotides of both C- and G-rich strands remain unaltered in Mre11-diminished cells, indicating that MRN is not responsible for specifying the final end-processing event. The reduction in overhang length was not seen in telomerase-negative cells, but was observed after the expression of exogenous telomerase, which suggested that the MRN complex might be involved in the recruitment or action of telomerase.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 225-230 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | EMBO Reports |
| Volume | 7 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 2006 |
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Keywords
- 3′ G-overhang
- DNA double-strand break repair
- Mre11/Rad50/Nbs1
- Telomere
- Telomere end processing
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Genetics
- Cell Biology
Cite this
The involvement of the Mre11/Rad50/Nbs1 complex in the generation of G-overhangs at human telomeres. / Chai, Weihang; Sfeir, Agnel J.; Hoshiyama, Hirotoshi; Shay, Jerry W.; Wright, Woodring E.
In: EMBO Reports, Vol. 7, No. 2, 02.2006, p. 225-230.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The involvement of the Mre11/Rad50/Nbs1 complex in the generation of G-overhangs at human telomeres
AU - Chai, Weihang
AU - Sfeir, Agnel J.
AU - Hoshiyama, Hirotoshi
AU - Shay, Jerry W.
AU - Wright, Woodring E.
PY - 2006/2
Y1 - 2006/2
N2 - A central function of telomeres is to prevent chromosome ends from being recognized as DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Several proteins involved in processing DSBs associate with telomeres, but the roles of these factors at telomeres are largely unknown. To investigate whether the Mre11/Rad50/Nbs1 (MRN) complex is involved in the generation of proper 3′ G-overhangs at human telomere ends, we used RNA interference to decrease expression of MRN and analysed their effects. Reduction of MRN resulted in a transient shortening of G-overhang length in telomerase-positive cells. The terminal nucleotides of both C- and G-rich strands remain unaltered in Mre11-diminished cells, indicating that MRN is not responsible for specifying the final end-processing event. The reduction in overhang length was not seen in telomerase-negative cells, but was observed after the expression of exogenous telomerase, which suggested that the MRN complex might be involved in the recruitment or action of telomerase.
AB - A central function of telomeres is to prevent chromosome ends from being recognized as DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Several proteins involved in processing DSBs associate with telomeres, but the roles of these factors at telomeres are largely unknown. To investigate whether the Mre11/Rad50/Nbs1 (MRN) complex is involved in the generation of proper 3′ G-overhangs at human telomere ends, we used RNA interference to decrease expression of MRN and analysed their effects. Reduction of MRN resulted in a transient shortening of G-overhang length in telomerase-positive cells. The terminal nucleotides of both C- and G-rich strands remain unaltered in Mre11-diminished cells, indicating that MRN is not responsible for specifying the final end-processing event. The reduction in overhang length was not seen in telomerase-negative cells, but was observed after the expression of exogenous telomerase, which suggested that the MRN complex might be involved in the recruitment or action of telomerase.
KW - 3′ G-overhang
KW - DNA double-strand break repair
KW - Mre11/Rad50/Nbs1
KW - Telomere
KW - Telomere end processing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33645800789&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33645800789&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/sj.embor.7400600
DO - 10.1038/sj.embor.7400600
M3 - Article
C2 - 16374507
AN - SCOPUS:33645800789
VL - 7
SP - 225
EP - 230
JO - EMBO Reports
JF - EMBO Reports
SN - 1469-221X
IS - 2
ER -