Asynchronous replication timing of telomeres at opposite arms of mammalian chromosomes

Ying Zou, Sergei M. Gryaznov, Jerry W. Shay, Woodring E. Wright, Michael N. Cornforth

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

Telomeres are defining structural elements of all linear chromosomes, yet information concerning the timing of their replication in higher eukaryotes is surprisingly limited. We developed an approach that allowed a study of telomere replication patterns of specific mammalian chromosomes. In the Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjac), replication timing between respective telomeres of homologous chromosomes was highly coordinated, but no such synchrony was evident for p- and q-arm telomeres of the same chromosome. This finding contrasts with the coordinated timing of both ends of each chromosome in yeast. Also in contrast to yeast, where replication of all telomeres is confined to late S phase, we found specific telomeres in Indian muntjac chromosomes that replicated early in S and other telomeres that replicated later. Finally, replication timing of some but not all telomeres was influenced by telomere length. Knowledge of telomere replication timing represents a first step toward understanding the relationship between telomere replication and telomerase action. The approach, which we call replicative detargeting fluorescence in situ hybridization, is widely applicable to different species and genetic loci.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)12928-12933
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume101
Issue number35
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 31 2004

Keywords

  • DNA replication
  • Indian muntjac
  • Telomerase

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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