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Updated: May 26, 2026

Analyzing Telomeric Protein-DNA Interactions Using Single-Molecule Magnetic Tweezers
Published on: August 30, 2024
The role of shelterin in maintaining telomere integrity
Maria Pia Longhese1, Savani Anbalagan, Marina Martina
1Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Universita di Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy. mariapia.longhese@unimib.it
Abstract:
The ends of eukaryotic chromosomes need to be protected from detection as DNA double strand breaks by the DNA damage response pathways. Failure to do so would have devastating consequences for genome integrity. Packaging of chromosome ends into protective structures called telomeres prevents checkpoint activation and DNA repair/recombination activities. Several studies on a variety of organisms have revealed that protein complexes with specificity for telomeric DNA protect chromosome ends from being recognized as DNA double-strand breaks and regulate telomere maintenance by the telomerase. In this review, we will discuss the consequences of telomere dysfunction and our understanding of how telomere integrity is maintained.
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