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Telomeres and Telomerase

Telomeres and Telomerase

In eukaryotic DNA replication, a single-stranded DNA fragment remains at the end of a chromosome after the removal of the final primer. This section of DNA cannot be replicated in the same manner as the rest of the strand because there is no 3’ end to which the newly synthesized DNA can attach. This non-replicated fragment results in gradual loss of the chromosomal DNA during each cell duplication. Additionally, it can induce a DNA damage response by enzymes that recognize single-stranded DNA.

Telomeres and Telomerase

Telomeres and Telomerase

In eukaryotic DNA replication, a single-stranded DNA fragment remains at the end of a chromosome after the removal of the final primer. This section of DNA cannot be replicated in the same manner as the rest of the strand because there is no 3’ end to which the newly synthesized DNA can attach. This non-replicated fragment results in gradual loss of the chromosomal DNA during each cell duplication. Additionally, it can induce a DNA damage response by enzymes that recognize single-stranded DNA.

Replication in Eukaryotes

Replication in Eukaryotes

Replication in Eukaryotes

Replication in Eukaryotes

In eukaryotic cells, DNA replication is highly conserved and tightly regulated. Multiple linear chromosomes must be duplicated with high fidelity before cell division, so there are many proteins that fulfill specialized roles in the replication process. Replication occurs in three phases: initiation, elongation, and termination, and ends with two complete sets of chromosomes in the nucleus.
Many Proteins Orchestrate Replication at the Origin
Eukaryotic replication follows many of the same...

Microtubule Instability

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Microtubules are hollow cylindrical filaments having a diameter of approximately 25 nm and a length that varies from 200 nm to 25 μm. GTP-bound tubulin subunits form αβ-heterodimers for microtubule assembly. These core building blocks interact longitudinally, polymerizing into protofilaments. The protofilaments then interact with one another through lateral bonding forces to form stable cylindrical microtubules. These cylindrical filaments are dynamic as they undergo repeated assembly and...

Replicative Cell Senescence

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Replicative cell senescence is a property of cells that allows them to divide a finite number of times throughout the organism's lifespan while preventing excessive proliferation. Replicative senescence is associated with the gradual loss of the telomere — short, repetitive DNA sequences found at the end of the chromosomes. Telomeres are bound by a group of proteins to form a protective cap on the ends of chromosomes. Embryonic stem cells express telomerase — an enzyme that adds the telomeric...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Single-molecule Manipulation of G-quadruplexes by Magnetic Tweezers

Single-molecule Manipulation of G-quadruplexes by Magnetic Tweezers

Published on: September 19, 2017

Stability of telomeric G-quadruplexes.

Phong Lan Thao Tran¹, Jean-Louis Mergny, Patrizia Alberti

¹INSERM, U565, Acides Nucléiques: Dynamique, Ciblage et Fonctions Biologiques, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, UMR7196, Département de Régulations, Développement et Diversité Moléculaire, 43 rue Cuvier, CP26, Paris Cedex 5 -75231, France.

Nucleic Acids Research

|December 24, 2010

Summary

Telomeric DNA G-quadruplex folding varies across eukaryotes. Yeast telomeres show little G-quadruplex folding, while other eukaryotes consistently form stable G-quadruplex structures, unlike some insect and nematode sequences.

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Area of Science:

Genomics
Biophysics
Molecular Biology

Background:

Telomeric DNA, crucial for chromosome stability, often contains guanine-rich sequences.
These guanine-rich motifs have the potential to form G-quadruplexes, a non-canonical DNA structure.
Previous studies explored G-quadruplex formation in vitro, but a comparative analysis across diverse eukaryotic telomeric sequences, especially yeast, was lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

To compare the G-quadruplex folding potential and stability of telomeric sequences from various eukaryotes.
To investigate the intramolecular G-quadruplex folding of yeast telomeric sequences.

Main Methods:

Biophysical techniques
Biochemical assays
Analysis of synthetic DNA sequences mimicking eukaryotic telomeres

Main Results:

G-quadruplex folding is not conserved in yeast telomeric sequences.
Telomeric sequences from non-yeast eukaryotes consistently folded into G-quadruplexes.
While some sequences (e.g., G(3)T(1-4)A, G(4)T(2,4)) formed stable G-quadruplexes, others (e.g., G(2)T(2)A, G(2)CT(2)A) existed in equilibrium with non-G-quadruplex structures.

Conclusions:

Eukaryotic telomeric sequences exhibit diverse G-quadruplex folding capabilities.
Yeast telomeres appear less prone to G-quadruplex formation compared to other eukaryotes.
The stability of G-quadruplexes varies significantly based on specific telomeric repeat motifs.