Contributions of recombination and repair proteins to telomere maintenance in telomerase-positive and negative Ustilago maydis.

TitleContributions of recombination and repair proteins to telomere maintenance in telomerase-positive and negative Ustilago maydis.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2018
AuthorsYu EYoung, Hsu M, Holloman WK, Lue NF
JournalMol Microbiol
Volume107
Issue1
Pagination81-93
Date Published2018 Jan
ISSN1365-2958
KeywordsDNA Repair Enzymes, DNA Replication, DNA-Binding Proteins, Gene Rearrangement, Rad51 Recombinase, Recombination, Genetic, RecQ Helicases, Telomerase, Telomere, Ustilago
Abstract

Homologous recombination and repair factors are known to promote both telomere replication and recombination-based telomere extension. Herein, we address the diverse contributions of several recombination/repair proteins to telomere maintenance in Ustilago maydis, a fungus that bears strong resemblance to mammals with respect to telomere regulation and recombination mechanisms. In telomerase-positive U. maydis, deletion of rad51 and blm separately caused shortened but stably maintained telomeres, whereas deletion of both engendered similar telomere loss, suggesting that the repair proteins help to resolve similar problems in telomere replication. In telomerase-negative cells, the loss of Rad51 or Brh2 caused accelerated senescence and failure to generate survivors on semi-solid medium. However, slow growing survivors can be isolated through continuous liquid culturing, and these survivors exhibit type II-like as well as ALT-like telomere features. In contrast, the trt1Δ blmΔ double mutant gives rise to survivors as readily as the trt1Δ single mutant, and like the single mutant survivors, exhibit almost exclusively type I-like telomere features. In addition, we observed direct physical interactions between Blm and two telomere-binding proteins, which may thus recruit or regulate Blm at telomeres. Our findings provide the basis for further analyzing the interplays between telomerase, telomere replication, and telomere recombination.

DOI10.1111/mmi.13866
Alternate JournalMol Microbiol
PubMed ID29052918

Weill Cornell Medicine Microbiology and Immunology 1300 York Avenue, Box 62 New York, NY 10065 Phone: (212) 746-6505 Fax: (212) 746-8587