Project description:Telomere maintenance is indispensable for perpetuated cell division, but telomeres are not necessarily composed of a fixed sequence. Here we report the establishment of a model for alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) in which telomeres are reconstructed with an internal ALT template. Longitudinal whole-genome analyses of ALT mESCs showed that pre-amplification of the template into a telomeric region was a prerequisite for ALT activation, and that extensive copy number variations became concentrated in subtelomeric regions. Epigenomic analysis revealed the heterochromatic structure of the ALT telomeres, except for an insulator region within the ALT template. Quantitative proteomics followed by single-cell RNA-sequencing and functional assays revealed that HMGN1 protected new telomeres by regulating telomere repeat-containing RNA transcription and R loop formation in ALT mESCs. These findings implicate an evolutionarily conserved ALT mechanism driven by an internal template and provide a molecular basis underlying telomere evolution.
Project description:Telomere is a highly refined system for maintaining the stability of linear chromosomes. Most telomeres rely on simple repetitive sequences and telomerase enzymes, but in some species or telomerase-defective situations, alternative telomere lengthening (ALT) mechanism is utilized to protect chromosomal ends. Telomere loss can induce telomere recombination by which specific sequences can be recruited into telomeres. However, canonical telomeric repeat-based telomeres have been found in mammals. Here, we show that mammalian telomeres can also be completely reconstituted using a non-telomeric unique sequence. We found that a specific subtelomeric element, named as mouse template for ALT (mTALT), is utilized for repairing telomeric DNA damage and composing new telomeric sequences in mouse embryonic stem cells. We found a high-level of non-coding mTALT transcript despite the heterochromatic nature of mTALT-based telomere. After ALT activation, the increased HMGN1, a non-histone chromosomal protein, contributed to maintaining telomere stability by regulating telomeric transcriptions. Our findings reveal novel molecular features of potential telomeric sequences which can reconstitute telomeres during cancer formation and evolution.
Project description:Telomere maintenance is indispensable for perpetuated cell division, but telomeres are not necessarily composed of a fixed sequence. Here we report the establishment of a model for alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) in which telomeres are reconstructed with an internal ALT template. Longitudinal whole-genome analyses of ALT mESCs showed that pre-amplification of the template into a telomeric region was a prerequisite for ALT activation, and that extensive copy number variations became concentrated in subtelomeric regions. Epigenomic analysis revealed the heterochromatic structure of the ALT telomeres, except for an insulator region within the ALT template. Quantitative proteomics followed by single-cell RNA-sequencing and functional assays revealed that HMGN1 protected new telomeres by regulating telomere repeat-containing RNA transcription and R loop formation in ALT mESCs. These findings implicate an evolutionarily conserved ALT mechanism driven by an internal template and provide a molecular basis underlying telomere evolution.
Project description:Telomere maintenance is indispensable for perpetuated cell division, but telomeres are not necessarily composed of a fixed sequence. Here we report the establishment of a model for alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) in which telomeres are reconstructed with an internal ALT template. Longitudinal whole-genome analyses of ALT mESCs showed that pre-amplification of the template into a telomeric region was a prerequisite for ALT activation, and that extensive copy number variations became concentrated in subtelomeric regions. Epigenomic analysis revealed the heterochromatic structure of the ALT telomeres, except for an insulator region within the ALT template. Quantitative proteomics followed by single-cell RNA-sequencing and functional assays revealed that HMGN1 protected new telomeres by regulating telomere repeat-containing RNA transcription and R loop formation in ALT mESCs. These findings implicate an evolutionarily conserved ALT mechanism driven by an internal template and provide a molecular basis underlying telomere evolution.
Project description:Telomere maintenance is indispensable for perpetuated cell division, but telomeres are not necessarily composed of a fixed sequence. Here we report the establishment of a model for alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) in which telomeres are reconstructed with an internal ALT template. Longitudinal whole-genome analyses of ALT mESCs showed that pre-amplification of the template into a telomeric region was a prerequisite for ALT activation, and that extensive copy number variations became concentrated in subtelomeric regions. Epigenomic analysis revealed the heterochromatic structure of the ALT telomeres, except for an insulator region within the ALT template. Quantitative proteomics followed by single-cell RNA-sequencing and functional assays revealed that HMGN1 protected new telomeres by regulating telomere repeat-containing RNA transcription and R loop formation in ALT mESCs. These findings implicate an evolutionarily conserved ALT mechanism driven by an internal template and provide a molecular basis underlying telomere evolution.