Replicating through telomeres: a means to an end

•Telomeric DNA is repetitive and heterochromatic, hindering the replication machinery.•Telomeric DNA also forms secondary structures that hinder the replication machinery.•Shelterin components and accessory factors facilitate telomere replication. Proper replication of the telomeric DNA at chromosom...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Trends in biochemical sciences (Amsterdam. Regular ed.) 2015-09, Vol.40 (9), p.504-515
Main Authors: Martínez, Paula, Blasco, Maria A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
DNA - genetics
DNA - metabolism
DNA Replication - genetics
DNA Replication - physiology
G quadruplexes
G-strand overhang
Humans
replication
shelterins
T loop
telomerase
Telomerase - metabolism
Telomere - genetics
Telomere - metabolism
telomeres
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Summary:•Telomeric DNA is repetitive and heterochromatic, hindering the replication machinery.•Telomeric DNA also forms secondary structures that hinder the replication machinery.•Shelterin components and accessory factors facilitate telomere replication. Proper replication of the telomeric DNA at chromosome ends is critical for preserving genome integrity. Yet, telomeres present challenges for the replication machinery, such as their repetitive and heterochromatic nature and their potential to form non-Watson–Crick structures as well as the fact that they are transcribed. Numerous telomere-bound proteins are required to facilitate progression of the replication fork throughout telomeric DNA. In particular, shelterin plays crucial functions in telomere length regulation, protection of telomeres from nuclease degradation, control of DNA damage response at telomeres, and the recruitment of associated factors required for telomere DNA processing and replication. In this review we discuss the recently uncovered functions of mammalian telomere-specific and telomere-associated proteins that facilitate proper telomere replication.
ISSN:0968-0004
1362-4326
DOI:10.1016/j.tibs.2015.06.003