RRC ID 4257
Author Lowden MR, Meier B, Lee TW, Hall J, Ahmed S.
Title End joining at Caenorhabditis elegans telomeres.
Journal Genetics
Abstract Critically shortened telomeres can be subjected to DNA repair events that generate end-to-end chromosome fusions. The resulting dicentric chromosomes can enter breakage-fusion-bridge cycles, thereby impeding elucidation of the structures of the initial fusion events and a mechanistic understanding of their genesis. Current models for the molecular basis of fusion of critically shortened, uncapped telomeres rely on PCR assays that typically capture fusion breakpoints created by direct ligation of chromosome ends. Here we use independent approaches that rely on distinctive features of Caenorhabditis elegans to study the frequency of direct end-to-end chromosome fusion in telomerase mutants: (1) holocentric chromosomes that allow for genetic isolation of stable end-to-end fusions and (2) unique subtelomeric sequences that allow for thorough PCR analysis of samples of genomic DNA harboring multiple end-to-end fusions. Surprisingly, only a minority of end-to-end fusion events resulted from direct end joining with no additional genome rearrangements. We also demonstrate that deficiency for the C. elegans Ku DNA repair heterodimer does not affect telomere length or cause synthetic effects in the absence of telomerase.
Volume 180(2)
Pages 741-54
Published 2008-10-1
DOI 10.1534/genetics.108.089920
PII genetics.108.089920
PMID 18780750
PMC PMC2567377
MeSH Animals Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics* Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism Chromosomes / metabolism DNA Ligases / metabolism DNA Repair Models, Genetic Mutation Telomerase / genetics Telomerase / metabolism Telomere / metabolism*
IF 4.015
Times Cited 16
WOS Category GENETICS & HEREDITY
Resource
C.elegans tm750 tm1203 tm1524 tm1620