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We have analyzed the mechanism and dynamics of telomere length variation in the macronucleus of Tetrahymena thermophila. In a newly differentiated macronucleus, the average length of the telomeric repeated sequence, (C4A2 X T2G4)n, is closely regulated. In contrast, in vegetatively dividing cells in log phase, all macronuclear telomeric sequences lengthen coordinately by 3-10 bp per generation until up to 1000 bp are added. In both elongated and short telomeres, characteristic single-stranded breaks on both strands are distally located. Reduction of elongated telomeres to their original length involves either the appearance of a novel type of variant cell, incapable of net telomere elongation, or, under stationary phase conditions, a reversible removal of telomeric sequences. The demonstration that telomeres are dynamic structures provides evidence for a model of telomere length regulation by activities that add and remove telomeric repeats.
D D Larson, and
E A Spangler, and
E H Blackburn
June 1988,
Nucleic acids research,
D D Larson, and
E A Spangler, and
E H Blackburn
January 2003,
The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology,
D D Larson, and
E A Spangler, and
E H Blackburn
November 1977,
Genetics,
D D Larson, and
E A Spangler, and
E H Blackburn
August 2004,
Molecular biology of the cell,
D D Larson, and
E A Spangler, and
E H Blackburn
January 1993,
The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology,
D D Larson, and
E A Spangler, and
E H Blackburn
May 2005,
Current biology : CB,
D D Larson, and
E A Spangler, and
E H Blackburn
June 2016,
Journal of evolutionary biology,
D D Larson, and
E A Spangler, and
E H Blackburn
March 1996,
Molecular and cellular biology,
D D Larson, and
E A Spangler, and
E H Blackburn
February 2002,
Biochemical and biophysical research communications,
D D Larson, and
E A Spangler, and
E H Blackburn
January 1985,
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America,
