A shared docking motif in TRF1 and TRF2 used for differential recruitment of telomeric proteins
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Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Analyzing Telomeric Protein-DNA Interactions Using Single-Molecule Magnetic Tweezers
Published on: August 30, 2024
Yong Chen1, Yuting Yang, Megan van Overbeek
1Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan Medical School, 1150 West Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Abstract:
Mammalian telomeres are protected by a six-protein complex: shelterin. Shelterin contains two closely related proteins (TRF1 and TRF2), which recruit various proteins to telomeres. We dissect the interactions of TRF1 and TRF2 with their shared binding partner (TIN2) and other shelterin accessory factors. TRF1 recognizes TIN2 using a conserved molecular surface in its TRF homology (TRFH) domain. However, this same surface does not act as a TIN2 binding site in TRF2, and TIN2 binding to TRF2 is mediated by a region outside the TRFH domain. Instead, the TRFH docking site of TRF2 binds a shelterin accessory factor (Apollo), which does not interact with the TRFH domain of TRF1. Conversely, the TRFH domain of TRF1, but not of TRF2, interacts with another shelterin-associated factor: PinX1.
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