In the End, its all Structure

Title: In the End, its all Structure

Volume: 5 Issue: 2

Author(s): Laure Crabbe and Jan Karlseder

Affiliation:

Keywords: chromosomes, telomeres, reverse transcriptase, expression, dna-binding domain, dnapk complex

Abstract: Chromosome end protection is essential for all organisms with linear genomes. Specialized structures, called telomeres, accomplish this protection by forming DNA-protein complexes that hide the natural chromosome ends from the DNA damage machinery. In mammalian cells protection takes place on several levels. Telomeric DNA forms large duplex loops with the help of telomeric proteins, consequently hiding the very tip of the telomere. Telomeric proteins play additional roles in protecting the end from degradation, regulating telomere length, and suppressing the DNA damage response machinery. Here we summarize the current knowledge about telomere structure, and discuss the future directions of the field.

Cite this article as:

Crabbe Laure and Karlseder Jan, In the End, its all Structure, Current Molecular Medicine 2005; 5 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1566524053586527