Telomeres and DNA damage checkpoints

In all eukaryotic organisms, interruptions in duplex DNA molecules elicit a DNA damage response, which includes activation of DNA repair machineries and surveillance mechanisms, known as DNA damage checkpoints. Telomeres and double-strand breaks (DSBs) share the common feature of being physical ends...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biochimie 2005-07, Vol.87 (7), p.613-624
Main Authors: Viscardi, Valeria, Clerici, Michela, Cartagena-Lirola, Hugo, Longhese, Maria Pia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Checkpoint
DNA Damage
DNA Repair
DNA Replication
Genomic Instability
Humans
Mec1
Tel1
Telomerase - metabolism
Telomere - chemistry
Telomere - metabolism
Telomeres
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Summary:In all eukaryotic organisms, interruptions in duplex DNA molecules elicit a DNA damage response, which includes activation of DNA repair machineries and surveillance mechanisms, known as DNA damage checkpoints. Telomeres and double-strand breaks (DSBs) share the common feature of being physical ends of chromosomes. However, unlike DSBs, telomeres do not activate the DNA damage checkpoints and are usually protected from end-to-end fusions and other processing events that normally promote repair of DNA breaks. This indicates that they are shielded from being recognized and processed as DSBs. On the other hand, chromosome ends resemble damaged DNA, as several factors required for DNA repair and checkpoint networks play important roles in telomere length maintenance. Due to the critical role of both DNA damage checkpoints and telomere homeostasis in maintaining genetic stability and in counteracting cancer development, the knowledge of their interconnections is essential for our understanding of these key cellular controls.
ISSN:0300-9084
1638-6183
DOI:10.1016/j.biochi.2004.10.022