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.
Journal article
2018-11-01T00:00:00+00:00
14
Cell Line, Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21, Epigenesis, Genetic, Gene Expression, Genome, Human, Histone Code, Humans, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Protein Binding, Shelterin Complex, Telomere, Telomere Homeostasis, Telomere-Binding Proteins, Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 2, Transcription, Genetic