Molecular cloning of telomere-binding protein genes from Stylonychia mytilis

A telomere-binding protein heterodimer of 56 kDa (alpha) and 41 kDa (beta) subunits binds specifically to Oxytricha nova telomeres. Genes encoding both subunits have been cloned previously. Here we report molecular cloning and sequence analysis of the homologous genes in Stylonychia mytilis. The derived amino acid sequences were 79% identical for the alpha subunits and 77% identical for the beta subunits. Three repeats of a Leu/Ile heptad were found in each subunit, which might be involved in heterodimer formation. A 360 amino acid region of the Stylonychia mytilis alpha subunit was found to share weak sequence similarity with human vimentin, suggesting the possibility of a relationship between telomeres and intermediate filaments.