Telomere functions grounding on TERRA firma

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Genetics
• Epigenetics

Background:

• Long noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) play crucial roles in gene regulation.
• Telomeres, the protective caps of eukaryotic chromosomes, are transcribed into TERRA molecules.
• TERRA comprises subtelomeric sequences and telomeric repeats, with critical functions at chromosome ends.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the diverse functions of TERRA in maintaining telomere integrity and nuclear organization.
• To highlight TERRA's role in regulating telomere length and DNA damage response.
• To explore TERRA's involvement in cell cycle progression and chromosome mobility.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent studies on TERRA.
• Analysis of TERRA's molecular interactions with proteins and DNA.
• Examination of TERRA's regulatory mechanisms and functional consequences.

Main Results:

• TERRA regulates telomere length by modulating exonuclease 1 and telomerase activity.
• TERRA facilitates the recruitment of chromatin modifiers to damaged telomeres for DNA end-processing.
• TERRA influences telomere protein composition during the cell cycle and affects chromosome-end mobility.

Conclusions:

• TERRA is a vital noncoding RNA with multifaceted roles in telomere maintenance and genome stability.
• Regulated TERRA expression and its scaffold function are essential for various cellular processes.
• TERRA represents a key regulatory element at eukaryotic chromosome ends.