Histone Modifications and the Maintenance of Telomere Integrity
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2019-02-25
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Citation of Original Publication
Meagan Jezek and Erin M. Green, Histone Modifications and the Maintenance of Telomere Integrity, Cells 2019, 8(2), 199; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8020199
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Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Abstract
Telomeres, the nucleoprotein structures at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes, play an
integral role in protecting linear DNA from degradation. Dysregulation of telomeres can result
in genomic instability and has been implicated in increased rates of cellular senescence and many
diseases, including cancer. The integrity of telomeres is maintained by a coordinated network of
proteins and RNAs, such as the telomerase holoenzyme and protective proteins that prevent the
recognition of the telomere ends as a DNA double-strand breaks. The structure of chromatin at
telomeres and within adjacent subtelomeres has been implicated in telomere maintenance pathways
in model systems and humans. Specific post-translational modifications of histones, including
methylation, acetylation, and ubiquitination, have been shown to be necessary for maintaining a
chromatin environment that promotes telomere integrity. Here we review the current knowledge
regarding the role of histone modifications in maintaining telomeric and subtelomeric chromatin,
discuss the implications of histone modification marks as they relate to human disease, and highlight
key areas for future research.