Telomere length-dependent transcription and epigenetic modifications in promoters remote from telomere ends

PLoS Genet. 2018 Nov 15;14(11):e1007782. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007782. eCollection 2018 Nov.

Abstract

Telomere-binding proteins constituting the shelterin complex have been studied primarily for telomeric functions. However, mounting evidence shows non-telomeric binding and gene regulation by shelterin factors. This raises a key question-do telomeres impact binding of shelterin proteins at distal non-telomeric sites? Here we show that binding of the telomere-repeat-binding-factor-2 (TRF2) at promoters ~60 Mb from telomeres depends on telomere length in human cells. Promoter TRF2 occupancy was depleted in cells with elongated telomeres resulting in altered TRF2-mediated transcription of distal genes. In addition, histone modifications-activation (H3K4me1 and H3K4me3) as well as silencing marks (H3K27me3)-at distal promoters were telomere length-dependent. These demonstrate that transcription, and the epigenetic state, of telomere-distal promoters can be influenced by telomere length. Molecular links between telomeres and the extra-telomeric genome, emerging from findings here, might have important implications in telomere-related physiology, particularly ageing and cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / genetics
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / metabolism
  • Epigenesis, Genetic*
  • Gene Expression
  • Genome, Human
  • Histone Code / genetics
  • Histone Code / physiology
  • Humans
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic*
  • Protein Binding
  • Shelterin Complex
  • Telomere / genetics*
  • Telomere / metabolism*
  • Telomere Homeostasis / genetics
  • Telomere Homeostasis / physiology
  • Telomere-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Telomere-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 2 / genetics
  • Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 2 / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic*

Substances

  • CDKN1A protein, human
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
  • Shelterin Complex
  • TERF2 protein, human
  • TERF2IP protein, human
  • Telomere-Binding Proteins
  • Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 2