TZAP: A telomere-associated protein involved in telomere length control

Telomeres are found at the end of chromosomes and are important for chromosome stability. Here we describe a specific telomere-associated protein: TZAP (telomeric zinc finger–associated protein). TZAP binds preferentially to long telomeres that have a low concentration of shelterin complex, competin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2017-02, Vol.355 (6325), p.638-641
Main Authors: Li, Julia Su Zhou, Fusté, Javier Miralles, Simavorian, Tatevik, Bartocci, Cristina, Tsai, Jill, Karlseder, Jan, Denchi, Eros Lazzerini
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aberration
arabidopsis
Binding
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Biokemi och molekylärbiologi
Cell and Molecular Biology
Cell Line, Tumor
Cell- och molekylärbiologi
cells
chromatin
Chromosomes
circles
complex
Control
Deletion
Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics
DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism
Gene Knockout Techniques
generation
Humans
mechanism
Protein Binding
Proteins
reveals
Science & Technology - Other Topics
shelterin
Stability
states
Tandem Repeat Sequences
Telomerase
Telomere - genetics
Telomere - metabolism
Telomere Homeostasis
Telomere-binding protein
Telomeres
Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 1 - metabolism
Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 2 - metabolism
Transcription Factors - genetics
Transcription Factors - metabolism
Trimming
Yeast
Zinc
Zinc finger proteins
Zinc Fingers
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Summary:Telomeres are found at the end of chromosomes and are important for chromosome stability. Here we describe a specific telomere-associated protein: TZAP (telomeric zinc finger–associated protein). TZAP binds preferentially to long telomeres that have a low concentration of shelterin complex, competing with the telomeric-repeat binding factors TRF1 and TRF2. When localized at telomeres, TZAP triggers a process known as telomere trimming, which results in the rapid deletion of telomeric repeats. On the basis of these results, we propose a model for telomere length regulation in mammalian cells: The reduced concentration of the shelterin complex at long telomeres results in TZAP binding and initiation of telomere trimming. Binding of TZAP to long telomeres represents the switch that triggers telomere trimming, setting the upper limit of telomere length.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.aah6752