1. Academic Validation
  2. Role for the related poly(ADP-Ribose) polymerases tankyrase 1 and 2 at human telomeres

Role for the related poly(ADP-Ribose) polymerases tankyrase 1 and 2 at human telomeres

  • Mol Cell Biol. 2002 Jan;22(1):332-42. doi: 10.1128/MCB.22.1.332-342.2002.
Brandoch D Cook 1 Jasmin N Dynek William Chang Grigoriy Shostak Susan Smith
Affiliations

Affiliation

  • 1 The Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA.
Abstract

Telomere maintenance is essential for the continuous growth of tumor cells. In most human tumors telomeres are maintained by Telomerase, a specialized Reverse Transcriptase. Tankyrase 1, a human telomeric poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), positively regulates telomere length through its interaction with TRF1, a telomeric DNA-binding protein. Tankyrase 1 ADP-ribosylates TRF1, inhibiting its binding to telomeric DNA. Overexpression of tankyrase 1 in the nucleus promotes telomere elongation, suggesting that tankyrase 1 regulates access of Telomerase to the telomeric complex. The recent identification of a closely related homolog of tankyrase 1, tankyrase 2, opens the possibility for a second PARP at telomeres. We therefore sought to establish the role of tankyrase 1 at telomeres and to determine if tankyrase 2 might have a telomeric function. We show that endogenous tankyrase 1 is a component of the human telomeric complex. We demonstrate that telomere elongation by tankyrase 1 requires the catalytic activity of the PARP domain and does not occur in telomerase-negative primary human cells. To investigate a potential role for tankyrase 2 at telomeres, recombinant tankyrase 2 was subjected to an in vitro PARP assay. Tankyrase 2 poly(ADP-ribosyl)ated itself and TRF1. Overexpression of tankyrase 2 in the nucleus released endogenous TRF1 from telomeres. These findings establish tankyrase 2 as a bona fide PARP, with itself and TRF1 as acceptors of ADP-ribosylation, and suggest the possibility of a role for tankyrase 2 at telomeres.

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