Article abstract


Nature Structural & Molecular Biology 14, 208 - 214 (2007)
Published online: 11 February 2007 | doi:10.1038/nsmb1205

RPA-like proteins mediate yeast telomere function

Hua Gao1,2, Rachel B Cervantes1, Edward K Mandell1,3, Joel H Otero3 & Victoria Lundblad1


Cdc13, Stn1 and Ten1 are essential yeast proteins that both protect chromosome termini from unregulated resection and regulate telomere length. Cdc13, which localizes to telomeres through high-affinity binding to telomeric single-stranded DNA, has been extensively characterized, whereas the contribution(s) of the Cdc13-associated Stn1 and Ten1 proteins to telomere function have remained unclear. We show here that Stn1 and Ten1 are DNA-binding proteins with specificity for telomeric DNA substrates. Furthermore, Stn1 and Ten1 show similarities to Rpa2 and Rpa3, subunits of the heterotrimeric replication protein A (RPA) complex, which is the major single-stranded DNA–binding activity in eukaryotic cells. We propose that Cdc13, Stn1 and Ten1 function as a telomere-specific RPA-like complex. Identification of an RPA-like complex that is targeted to a specific region of the genome suggests that multiple RPA-like complexes have evolved, each making individual contributions to genomic stability.

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  1. The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
  2. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston Texas 77030, USA.
  3. Graduate Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston Texas 77030, USA.

Correspondence to: Victoria Lundblad1 e-mail: lundblad@salk.edu



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