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Coordination of transposon expression with DNA replication in the targeting of telomeric retrotransposons in D rosophila
Author(s) -
Zhang Liang,
Beaucher Michelle,
Cheng Yan,
Rong Yikang S
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1002/embj.201386940
Subject(s) - biology , telomere , retrotransposon , transposable element , telomerase , telomere binding protein , genetics , dna replication , dna , microbiology and biotechnology , dna binding protein , gene , genome , transcription factor
In Drosophila , a group of retrotransposons is mobilized exclusively to telomeres in a sequence‐independent manner. How they target chromosome ends is not understood. Here, we focused on the telomeric element HeT‐A and characterized the cell cycle expression and cytological distribution of its protein and RNA products. We determined the timing of telomere replication by creating a single lacO ‐marked telomere and provide evidence suggesting that transposon expression and recruitment to telomeres is linked to telomere replication. The HeT‐A ‐encoded ORF 1p protein is expressed predominantly in S phase, particularly in early S phase. Orf1p binds HeT‐A transcripts and forms spherical structures at telomeres undergoing DNA replication. HeT‐A sphere formation requires Verrocchio, a putative homolog of the conserved Stn1 telomeric protein. Our results suggest that coupling of telomere elongation and telomere replication is a universal feature, and raise the possibility that transposon recruitment to Drosophila telomeres is mechanistically related to telomerase recruitment in other organisms. Our study also supports a co‐adaptive relationship between the Drosophila host and HeT‐A mobile elements.