Alternative lengthening of telomeres pathway: recombination-mediated telomere maintenance mechanism in human cells

Unlimitedly proliferating cells need to acquire the telomere DNA maintenance mechanism, to counteract possible shortening through multiple rounds of replication and segregation of linear chromosomes. Most human cancer cells express telomerase whereas the other cells utilize the alternative lengtheni...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of biochemistry (Tokyo) 2011-01, Vol.149 (1), p.5-14
Main Authors: Nabetani, Akira, Ishikawa, Fuyuki
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acid Anhydride Hydrolases
Animals
Cell Cycle Proteins - physiology
DNA - metabolism
DNA Helicases - physiology
DNA Repair Enzymes - physiology
DNA, Cruciform - metabolism
DNA-Binding Proteins - physiology
Humans
MRE11 Homologue Protein
Nuclear Proteins - metabolism
Nuclear Proteins - physiology
Recombination, Genetic
Shelterin Complex
Telomerase - biosynthesis
Telomere - genetics
Telomere - metabolism
Telomere-Binding Proteins - physiology
Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 2 - physiology
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Summary:Unlimitedly proliferating cells need to acquire the telomere DNA maintenance mechanism, to counteract possible shortening through multiple rounds of replication and segregation of linear chromosomes. Most human cancer cells express telomerase whereas the other cells utilize the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway to elongate telomere DNA. It is suggested that ALT depends on the recombination between telomere repetitive DNAs. However, the molecular details remain unknown. Recent studies have provided evidence of special structures of telomere DNA and genes essential for the phenotypes of ALT cells. The molecular models of the ALT pathway should be validated to elucidate recombination-mediated telomere maintenance and promote the applications to anti-cancer therapy.
ISSN:0021-924X
1756-2651
DOI:10.1093/jb/mvq119