Title |
If the cap fits, wear it: an overview of telomeric structures over evolution
|
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Published in |
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, September 2013
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DOI | 10.1007/s00018-013-1469-z |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Nick Fulcher, Elisa Derboven, Sona Valuchova, Karel Riha |
Abstract |
Genome organization into linear chromosomes likely represents an important evolutionary innovation that has permitted the development of the sexual life cycle; this process has consequently advanced nuclear expansion and increased complexity of eukaryotic genomes. Chromosome linearity, however, poses a major challenge to the internal cellular machinery. The need to efficiently recognize and repair DNA double-strand breaks that occur as a consequence of DNA damage presents a constant threat to native chromosome ends known as telomeres. In this review, we present a comparative survey of various solutions to the end protection problem, maintaining an emphasis on DNA structure. This begins with telomeric structures derived from a subset of prokaryotes, mitochondria, and viruses, and will progress into the typical telomere structure exhibited by higher organisms containing TTAGG-like tandem sequences. We next examine non-canonical telomeres from Drosophila melanogaster, which comprise arrays of retrotransposons. Finally, we discuss telomeric structures in evolution and possible switches between canonical and non-canonical solutions to chromosome end protection. |
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Geographical breakdown
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France | 1 | 50% |
Demographic breakdown
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Scientists | 2 | 100% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
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Student > Ph. D. Student | 18 | 25% |
Student > Bachelor | 8 | 11% |
Student > Master | 7 | 10% |
Student > Postgraduate | 4 | 6% |
Other | 10 | 14% |
Unknown | 6 | 8% |
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Environmental Science | 1 | 1% |
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science | 1 | 1% |
Economics, Econometrics and Finance | 1 | 1% |
Other | 4 | 6% |
Unknown | 8 | 11% |