Biomaterial Database

Telomeres and double-strand breaks: trying to make ends meet. 1998

A Bertuch, and V Lundblad

Dept of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Eukaryotic cells encounter two types of DNA ends: telomeres, the natural ends of linear chromosomes, and double-strand breaks, resulting from DNA damage or normal chromosomal processes such as meiotic or V(D)J recombination. These two termini have long been seen as functionally distinct, based on whether they are resistant to fusion with other ends or instead are acted upon by the DNA-repair machinery. However, a series of recent papers has shown that members of a set of proteins that are crucial for the rejoining of DNA strand breaks are also required for normal telomere function, raising new questions about how these two types of termini maintain their functional distinction.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009687	Nuclear Proteins	Proteins found in the nucleus of a cell. Do not confuse with NUCLEOPROTEINS which are proteins conjugated with nucleic acids, that are not necessarily present in the nucleus.	Nucleolar Protein,Nucleolar Proteins,Nuclear Protein,Protein, Nuclear,Protein, Nucleolar,Proteins, Nuclear,Proteins, Nucleolar
D004260	DNA Repair	The removal of DNA LESIONS and/or restoration of intact DNA strands without BASE PAIR MISMATCHES, intrastrand or interstrand crosslinks, or discontinuities in the DNA sugar-phosphate backbones.	DNA Damage Response
D004265	DNA Helicases	Proteins that catalyze the unwinding of duplex DNA during replication by binding cooperatively to single-stranded regions of DNA or to short regions of duplex DNA that are undergoing transient opening. In addition, DNA helicases are DNA-dependent ATPases that harness the free energy of ATP hydrolysis to translocate DNA strands.	ATP-Dependent DNA Helicase,DNA Helicase,DNA Unwinding Protein,DNA Unwinding Proteins,ATP-Dependent DNA Helicases,DNA Helicase A,DNA Helicase E,DNA Helicase II,DNA Helicase III,ATP Dependent DNA Helicase,ATP Dependent DNA Helicases,DNA Helicase, ATP-Dependent,DNA Helicases, ATP-Dependent,Helicase, ATP-Dependent DNA,Helicase, DNA,Helicases, ATP-Dependent DNA,Helicases, DNA,Protein, DNA Unwinding,Unwinding Protein, DNA,Unwinding Proteins, DNA
D004268	DNA-Binding Proteins	Proteins which bind to DNA. The family includes proteins which bind to both double- and single-stranded DNA and also includes specific DNA binding proteins in serum which can be used as markers for malignant diseases.	DNA Helix Destabilizing Proteins,DNA-Binding Protein,Single-Stranded DNA Binding Proteins,DNA Binding Protein,DNA Single-Stranded Binding Protein,SS DNA BP,Single-Stranded DNA-Binding Protein,Binding Protein, DNA,DNA Binding Proteins,DNA Single Stranded Binding Protein,DNA-Binding Protein, Single-Stranded,Protein, DNA-Binding,Single Stranded DNA Binding Protein,Single Stranded DNA Binding Proteins
D005057	Eukaryotic Cells	Cells of the higher organisms, containing a true nucleus bounded by a nuclear membrane.	Cell, Eukaryotic,Cells, Eukaryotic,Eukaryotic Cell
D000072200	Ku Autoantigen	An ATP-dependent DNA HELICASE that preferentially binds SINGLE-STRANDED DNA. It is a heterodimer consisting of an 80 kDa subunit (XRCC5) and 70 kDa subunit (XRCC6) that functions with DNA LIGASE IV in the repair of DOUBLE-STRANDED DNA BREAKS and V(D)J RECOMBINATION.	G22P1 Antigen,Ku Antigen,Ku Autoantigen, 70 kDa,Ku Autoantigen, 80 kDa,Ku Heterodimer,Ku Protein,Ku70 Antigen,Ku80 Antigen,X-ray Repair Cross-Complementing Protein 5,X-ray Repair Cross-Complementing Protein 6,XRCC5 Protein,XRCC6 Protein,Antigen, G22P1,Antigen, Ku,Antigen, Ku70,Antigen, Ku80,Autoantigen, Ku,Heterodimer, Ku,X ray Repair Cross Complementing Protein 5,X ray Repair Cross Complementing Protein 6
D016615	Telomere	A terminal section of a chromosome which has a specialized structure and which is involved in chromosomal replication and stability. Its length is believed to be a few hundred base pairs.	Telomeres
D034961	Antigens, Nuclear	Immunologically detectable substances found in the CELL NUCLEUS.	Extractable Nuclear Antigen,Nuclear Antigen,Nuclear Antigens,Extractable Nuclear Antigens,Antigen, Extractable Nuclear,Antigen, Nuclear,Antigens, Extractable Nuclear,Nuclear Antigen, Extractable,Nuclear Antigens, Extractable