The Leishmania amazonensis TRF (TTAGGG repeat-binding factor) homologue binds and co-localizes with telomeres.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Telomeres are specialized structures at the end of chromosomes essential for maintaining genome stability and cell viability. The importance of telomeric proteins for telomere maintenance has increased our interest in the identification of homologues within the genus Leishmania. The mammalian TRF1 and TRF2 proteins, for example, bind double-stranded telomeres via a Myb-like DNA-binding domain and are involved with telomere length regulation and chromosome end protection. In addition, TRF2 can modulate the activity of several enzymes and influence the conformation of telomeric DNA. In this work, we identified and characterized a Leishmania protein (LaTRF) homologous to both mammalian TRF1 and TRF2.

Results

LaTRF was cloned using a PCR-based strategy. ClustalW and b

SUBMITTER: da Silva MS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2896790 | biostudies-literature | 2010 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature