The Shelterin TIN2 Subunit Mediates Recruitment of Telomerase to Telomeres

PLoS Genet. 2015 Jul 31;11(7):e1005410. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005410. eCollection 2015 Jul.

Abstract

Dyskeratosis Congenita (DC) is a heritable multi-system disorder caused by abnormally short telomeres. Clinically diagnosed by the mucocutaneous symptoms, DC patients are at high risk for bone marrow failure, pulmonary fibrosis, and multiple types of cancers. We have recapitulated the most common DC-causing mutation in the shelterin component TIN2 by introducing a TIN2-R282H mutation into cultured telomerase-positive human cells via a knock-in approach. The resulting heterozygous TIN2-R282H mutation does not perturb occupancy of other shelterin components on telomeres, result in activation of telomeric DNA damage signaling or exhibit other characteristics indicative of a telomere deprotection defect. Using a novel assay that monitors the frequency and extension rate of telomerase activity at individual telomeres, we show instead that telomerase elongates telomeres at a reduced frequency in TIN2-R282H heterozygous cells; this recruitment defect is further corroborated by examining the effect of this mutation on telomerase-telomere co-localization. These observations suggest a direct role for TIN2 in mediating telomere length through telomerase, separable from its role in telomere protection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aminopeptidases / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA Repair / genetics
  • Dipeptidyl-Peptidases and Tripeptidyl-Peptidases / metabolism
  • Dyskeratosis Congenita / genetics
  • Gene Knock-In Techniques
  • HCT116 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Serine Proteases / metabolism
  • Shelterin Complex
  • Telomerase / metabolism*
  • Telomere / metabolism*
  • Telomere Homeostasis / genetics
  • Telomere Shortening / genetics*
  • Telomere-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 1 / genetics
  • Tripeptidyl-Peptidase 1

Substances

  • Shelterin Complex
  • TINF2 protein, human
  • Telomere-Binding Proteins
  • Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 1
  • Tripeptidyl-Peptidase 1
  • Telomerase
  • Serine Proteases
  • Aminopeptidases
  • Dipeptidyl-Peptidases and Tripeptidyl-Peptidases