RESUMEN

Telomerase, the key enzyme essential for the maintenance of eukaryotic chromosome ends, contains a reverse transcriptase and an RNA that provides the template for the synthesis of telomeric repeats. Here, we characterize the telomerase subunits in the hemiascomycete yeast Candida glabrata. We propose a secondary structure model for the telomerase RNA that is the largest described to date. Telomerase deletion mutants show a progressive shortening of telomeres and a modest loss of viability. Frequent post-senescence survivors emerge that possess long telomeric repeat tracts. We suggest that the high telomere length heterogeneity accounts for this distinct senescence phenotype.

Asunto(s)

Candida glabrata/genética , ARN de Hongos/genética , ARN/genética , Telomerasa/genética , Telómero/genética , Secuencia de Bases , Southern Blotting , Candida glabrata/enzimología , Candida glabrata/crecimiento & desarrollo , División Celular , ADN de Hongos/genética , Citometría de Flujo , Eliminación de Gen , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Mutación , Conformación de Ácido Nucleico , ARN/química , ARN de Hongos/química , Homología de Secuencia de Ácido Nucleico , Telomerasa/química