[HTML][HTML] Defending the end zone: studying the players involved in protecting chromosome ends

SS Chan, S Chang - FEBS letters, 2010 - Elsevier
SS Chan, S Chang
FEBS letters, 2010Elsevier
The linear nature of eukaryotic chromosomes leaves natural DNA ends susceptible to
triggering DNA damage responses. Telomeres are specialized nucleoprotein structures that
comprise the “end zone” of chromosomes. Besides having specialized sequences and
structures, there are six resident proteins at telomeres that play prominent roles in protecting
chromosome ends. In this review, we discuss this team of proteins, termed shelterin, and
how it is involved in regulating DNA damage signaling, repair and replication at telomeres.
The linear nature of eukaryotic chromosomes leaves natural DNA ends susceptible to triggering DNA damage responses. Telomeres are specialized nucleoprotein structures that comprise the “end zone” of chromosomes. Besides having specialized sequences and structures, there are six resident proteins at telomeres that play prominent roles in protecting chromosome ends. In this review, we discuss this team of proteins, termed shelterin, and how it is involved in regulating DNA damage signaling, repair and replication at telomeres.
Elsevier