Fission yeast Pot1-Tpp1 protects telomeres and regulates telomere length

Science. 2008 Jun 6;320(5881):1341-4. doi: 10.1126/science.1154819.

Abstract

Telomeres are specialized chromatin structures that protect chromosomal ends. Protection of telomeres 1 (Pot1) binds to the telomeric G-rich overhang, thereby protecting telomeres and regulating telomerase. Mammalian POT1 and TPP1 interact and constitute part of the six-protein shelterin complex. Here we report that Tpz1, the TPP1 homolog in fission yeast, forms a complex with Pot1. Tpz1 binds to Ccq1 and the previously undiscovered protein Poz1 (Pot1-associated in Schizosaccharomyces pombe), which protect telomeres redundantly and regulate telomerase in positive and negative manners, respectively. Thus, the Pot1-Tpz1 complex accomplishes its functions by recruiting effector molecules Ccq1 and Poz1. Moreover, Poz1 bridges Pot1-Tpz1 and Taz1-Rap1, thereby connecting the single-stranded and double-stranded telomeric DNA regions. Such molecular architectures are similar to those of mammalian shelterin, indicating that the overall DNA-protein architecture is conserved across evolution.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
  • DNA, Fungal / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Schizosaccharomyces / genetics
  • Schizosaccharomyces / metabolism*
  • Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / chemistry
  • Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / genetics
  • Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / metabolism*
  • Shelterin Complex
  • Telomerase / metabolism
  • Telomere / metabolism
  • Telomere / physiology*
  • Telomere / ultrastructure
  • Telomere-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • Telomere-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Telomere-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Ccq1 protein, S pombe
  • DNA, Fungal
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Poz1 protein, S pombe
  • Rap1 protein, S pombe
  • Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins
  • Shelterin Complex
  • Telomere-Binding Proteins
  • Tpz1 protein, S pombe
  • pot1 protein, S pombe
  • Telomerase