The DNA structure and sequence preferences of WRN underlie its function in telomeric recombination events

Deanna N. Edwards; Amrita Machwe; Li Chen; Vilhelm A. Bohr; David K. Orren

doi:10.1038/ncomms9331

The DNA structure and sequence preferences of WRN underlie its function in telomeric recombination events

Deanna N. Edwards, Amrita Machwe, Li Chen, Vilhelm A. Bohr, David K. Orren

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Telomeric abnormalities caused by loss of function of the RecQ helicase WRN are linked to the multiple premature ageing phenotypes that characterize Werner syndrome. Here we examine WRNâ ™ s role in telomeric maintenance, by comparing its action on a variety of DNA structures without or with telomeric sequences. Our results show that WRN clearly prefers to act on strand invasion intermediates in a manner that favours strand invasion and exchange. Moreover, WRN unwinding of these recombination structures is further enhanced when the invading strand contains at least three G-rich single-stranded telomeric repeats. These selectivities are most pronounced at NaCl concentrations within the reported intranuclear monovalent cation concentration range, and are partly conferred by WRNâ ™ s C-terminal region. Importantly, WRNâ ™ s specificity for the G-rich telomeric sequence within this precise structural context is particularly relevant to telomere metabolism and strongly suggests a physiological role in telomeric recombination processes, including T-loop dynamics.

Original language	English
Article number	8331
Journal	Nature Communications
Volume	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms9331
State	Published - Sep 30 2015

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Macmillan Publishers Limited.

Funding

This work was supported by grant AG027258 from the National Institute of Aging to D.K.O. and A.M. and also in part by funds from the Intramural Program of the National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health. D.N.E. was supported in part by training grant T32ES007266 from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. This research was also supported by the Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource of the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center (P30CA177558).

Funders	Funder number
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Institute on Aging
National Childhood Cancer Registry – National Cancer Institute	P30CA177558
National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences	T32ES007266
University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Chemistry
General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
General Physics and Astronomy

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title = "The DNA structure and sequence preferences of WRN underlie its function in telomeric recombination events",

abstract = "Telomeric abnormalities caused by loss of function of the RecQ helicase WRN are linked to the multiple premature ageing phenotypes that characterize Werner syndrome. Here we examine WRN{\^a} {\texttrademark} s role in telomeric maintenance, by comparing its action on a variety of DNA structures without or with telomeric sequences. Our results show that WRN clearly prefers to act on strand invasion intermediates in a manner that favours strand invasion and exchange. Moreover, WRN unwinding of these recombination structures is further enhanced when the invading strand contains at least three G-rich single-stranded telomeric repeats. These selectivities are most pronounced at NaCl concentrations within the reported intranuclear monovalent cation concentration range, and are partly conferred by WRN{\^a} {\texttrademark} s C-terminal region. Importantly, WRN{\^a} {\texttrademark} s specificity for the G-rich telomeric sequence within this precise structural context is particularly relevant to telomere metabolism and strongly suggests a physiological role in telomeric recombination processes, including T-loop dynamics.",

author = "Edwards, {Deanna N.} and Amrita Machwe and Li Chen and Bohr, {Vilhelm A.} and Orren, {David K.}",

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AU - Edwards, Deanna N.

AU - Machwe, Amrita

AU - Chen, Li

AU - Bohr, Vilhelm A.

AU - Orren, David K.

PY - 2015/9/30

Y1 - 2015/9/30

N2 - Telomeric abnormalities caused by loss of function of the RecQ helicase WRN are linked to the multiple premature ageing phenotypes that characterize Werner syndrome. Here we examine WRNâ ™ s role in telomeric maintenance, by comparing its action on a variety of DNA structures without or with telomeric sequences. Our results show that WRN clearly prefers to act on strand invasion intermediates in a manner that favours strand invasion and exchange. Moreover, WRN unwinding of these recombination structures is further enhanced when the invading strand contains at least three G-rich single-stranded telomeric repeats. These selectivities are most pronounced at NaCl concentrations within the reported intranuclear monovalent cation concentration range, and are partly conferred by WRNâ ™ s C-terminal region. Importantly, WRNâ ™ s specificity for the G-rich telomeric sequence within this precise structural context is particularly relevant to telomere metabolism and strongly suggests a physiological role in telomeric recombination processes, including T-loop dynamics.

AB - Telomeric abnormalities caused by loss of function of the RecQ helicase WRN are linked to the multiple premature ageing phenotypes that characterize Werner syndrome. Here we examine WRNâ ™ s role in telomeric maintenance, by comparing its action on a variety of DNA structures without or with telomeric sequences. Our results show that WRN clearly prefers to act on strand invasion intermediates in a manner that favours strand invasion and exchange. Moreover, WRN unwinding of these recombination structures is further enhanced when the invading strand contains at least three G-rich single-stranded telomeric repeats. These selectivities are most pronounced at NaCl concentrations within the reported intranuclear monovalent cation concentration range, and are partly conferred by WRNâ ™ s C-terminal region. Importantly, WRNâ ™ s specificity for the G-rich telomeric sequence within this precise structural context is particularly relevant to telomere metabolism and strongly suggests a physiological role in telomeric recombination processes, including T-loop dynamics.

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The DNA structure and sequence preferences of WRN underlie its function in telomeric recombination events

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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