Telomeric DNA generally comprises a repetitive, noncoding sequence which terminates in a single‑stranded extension, the 3\\\' overhang. Although these species‑specific repeats show a large diversity in sequence and length, they comprise some specific characteristic conserved features....

Linear DNA genomes are sporadically found among viruses, bacteria and organelles. In contrast, virtually all eukaryotic species harbor in their nuclei chromosomes consisting of linear DNA molecules that terminate with specific structures termed telomeres, indicating that this genomic or...

Telomeres play fundamental roles in genome stability, nuclear architecture and chromosome pairing during meiosis. They shorten at every cell division and may be re‑elongated or not depending on the presence of the dedicated enzyme, telomerase. Since in most human somatic cells telomerase is...

In Drosophila, the role of telomerase is carried out by three specialized retrotransposable elements, HeT‑A, TART and Tahre. Telomeres contain long tandem head‑to‑tail arrays of these elements. Within each array, the three elements occur in random, but polarized, order. Some are...

The terminal parts of chromosomes, telomeres and their subtelomeric neighbors are reviewed. Both have common and specific features that interact to generate the unique and essential biology that characterizes telomeres. The chromatin of both chromosome domains has a nucleosomal structure and...

Telomeres are crucial components required for genomic stability. Telomere dysfunction can result in enormously elevated rates of chromosomal alterations, particularly in subtelomeric regions. Interestingly, the chromosomal regions in the vicinity of telomeres are often among the most rapidly...

Telomerase is a unique ribonucleoprotein reverse transcriptase that uses an integral RNA template to catalyze the addition of telomeric repeats at telomeres. This mechanism is required for the maintenance of chromosome termini, as the structure and integrity of telomeres are essential for genome...

For human cells to achieve immortalization they must bypass multiple proliferative checkpoints and acquire a telomere maintenance mechanism to counteract the natural telomere attrition that results from the end‑replication problem. A number of human tumors and cells immortalized in culture...

Two types of bacterial telomeres of linear genomes are known. One type involves the covalent attachment of a terminal protein to each of the 5\\\'‑ends and the protective terminal protein is part of the priming complex in new rounds of DNA replication. The second type is a protein free DNA...

Telomere binding proteins provide essential functions for chromosome maintenance in most eukaryotes and consequently are well suited for analysis in the context of evolution. This review focuses on patterns gleaned from structural and functional characterization of telomere proteins that reveal...

All species with linear chromosomes require telomeres, whose role is to stabilize chromosome ends and prevent undesirable recombination‑mediated or DNA repair‑mediated events involving these DNA ends. The telomeres of most higher eukaryotic species are composed of very long tracts of...

It is now well known that chromatin structure and subnuclear environment play universal roles in the regulation of gene transcription and any type of DNA transactions, including the 3Rs (replication, recombination and repair). Most telomeres and subtelomeres from Saccharomyces cerevisiae to Homo...