Telomerase negative cancer cell types use the Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) pathway to elongate telomeres ends. Here, we show that silencing human DNA polymerase (Pol λ) in ALT cells represses ALT activity and induces telomeric stress. In addi ...
Mutations in CTC1 lead to the telomere syndromes Coats Plus and dyskeratosis congenita (DC), but the molecular mechanisms involved remain unknown. CTC1 forms with STN1 and TEN1 a trimeric complex termed CST, which binds ssDNA, promotes telomere DNA synthes ...
The lengths of human telomeres, which protect chromosome ends from degradation and end fusions(1,2), are crucial determinants of cell lifespan(3). During embryogenesis and in cancer, the telomerase enzyme counteracts telomeric DNA shortening. As shown in c ...
Telomeres are nucleoprotein structures capping the natural termini of eukaryotic linear chromosomes. Telomeres possess an inherent ability to circumvent the activation of a full-blown DNA damage response (DDR), and hence fusion reactions, by limiting inapp ...
Telomeric DNA at eukaryotic chromosome ends terminates with single stranded 3' G-rich overhangs. The overhang is generated by the interplay of several dynamic processes including semiconservative DNA replication, 3' end elongation by telomerase, C-strand f ...
