The long term objective of this award is to understand how human telomeres protect chromosome ends. We are examining the structure and function of human and mouse telomeres in molecular detail in hopes of providing mechanistic insights that could enhance opportunities for diagnosis and treatment of human aging and cancer. In the next funding period, our efforts will be focused on the consequences of telomere dysfunction, in particular the DNA repair reactions that act on dysfunctional telomeres. Initial studies had identified the fusion of telomeres as the main detrimental outcome of DNA repair at dysfunctional telomeres. Telomere fusion is a prominent outcome of telomere attrition and inhibition of TRF2, a key protective factor at telomeres. We have obtained genetic evidence that telomere fusions are mediated by non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ). We propose that telomeres are protected from NHEJ through formation of the t-loop, a structure that can be formed by interaction of TRF2 with telomeric DNA in vitro. Our recent data indicates that in addition to NHEJ, three other repair reactions may threaten chromosome ends: homologous recombination (HR) of t-loops resulting in telomere deletion, HR between telomeres resulting in sister telomere exchange, and recombination of telomeres with interstitial telomere related sequences.
Our aim i s to define of all four repair reactions and to determine how telomeres prevent these events. Our experiments will involve manipulating the function of TRF2 and its interacting partners using the genetic, molecular genetic, and cell biological tools we have developed during the past funding period.
Our specific aims are:
AIM 1. To define the NHEJ pathway at telomeres AIM 2. To define the t-loop HR pathway and test its relevance in transformed cells AIM 3. To define the pathway responsible for sister telomere exchanges AIM 4. To test whether telomeres can recombine with interstitial telomeric DNA. Since telomere dysfunction is thought to be the main source of genome instability in human cancer and may contribute to aspects of aging, the detailed understanding of the repair pathways at human dysfunctional telomeres is expected to be highly significant with regard to human disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award (R37)
Project #
5R37GM049046-17
Application #
7648070
Study Section
Molecular Genetics C Study Section (MGC)
Program Officer
Carter, Anthony D
Project Start
1993-05-01
Project End
2010-06-30
Budget Start
2009-07-01
Budget End
2010-06-30
Support Year
17
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$483,784
Indirect Cost
Name
Rockefeller University
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Other Domestic Higher Education
DUNS #
071037113
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10065
Kibe, Tatsuya; Zimmermann, Michal; de Lange, Titia (2016) TPP1 Blocks an ATR-Mediated Resection Mechanism at Telomeres. Mol Cell 61:236-46
Frescas, David; de Lange, Titia (2014) TRF2-tethered TIN2 can mediate telomere protection by TPP1/POT1. Mol Cell Biol 34:1349-62
Kabir, Shaheen; Hockemeyer, Dirk; de Lange, Titia (2014) TALEN gene knockouts reveal no requirement for the conserved human shelterin protein Rap1 in telomere protection and length regulation. Cell Rep 9:1273-80
Zimmermann, Michal; Kibe, Tatsuya; Kabir, Shaheen et al. (2014) TRF1 negotiates TTAGGG repeat-associated replication problems by recruiting the BLM helicase and the TPP1/POT1 repressor of ATR signaling. Genes Dev 28:2477-91
Frescas, David; de Lange, Titia (2014) A TIN2 dyskeratosis congenita mutation causes telomerase-independent telomere shortening in mice. Genes Dev 28:153-66
Frescas, David; de Lange, Titia (2014) Binding of TPP1 protein to TIN2 protein is required for POT1a,b protein-mediated telomere protection. J Biol Chem 289:24180-7
Zimmermann, Michal; de Lange, Titia (2014) 53BP1: pro choice in DNA repair. Trends Cell Biol 24:108-17
Doksani, Ylli; Wu, John Y; de Lange, Titia et al. (2013) Super-resolution fluorescence imaging of telomeres reveals TRF2-dependent T-loop formation. Cell 155:345-356
Zimmermann, Michal; Lottersberger, Francisca; Buonomo, Sara B et al. (2013) 53BP1 regulates DSB repair using Rif1 to control 5' end resection. Science 339:700-4
Ahmed, Emad A; Sfeir, Agnel; Takai, Hiroyuki et al. (2013) Ku70 and non-homologous end joining protect testicular cells from DNA damage. J Cell Sci 126:3095-104

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