Programmed chromosome fragmentation in ciliated protozoa: multiple means to chromosome ends.

ABSTRACT: SUMMARYCiliated protozoa undergo large-scale developmental rearrangement of their somatic genomes when forming a new transcriptionally active macronucleus during conjugation. This process includes the fragmentation of chromosomes derived from the germline, coupled with the efficient healing of the broken ends by de novo telomere addition. Here, we review what is known of developmental chromosome fragmentation in ciliates that have been well-studied at the molecular level (Tetrahymena, Paramecium, Euplotes, Stylonychia, and Oxytricha). These organisms differ substantially in the fidelity and precision of their fragmentation systems, as well as in the presence or absence of well-defined sequence elements that direct excision, suggesting that chromoso

SUBMITTER: Betermier M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10732028 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature