| First Author | Espejel S | Year | 2002 |
| Journal | EMBO J | Volume | 21 |
| Issue | 9 | Pages | 2207-19 |
| PubMed ID | 11980718 | Mgi Jnum | J:76498 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:2179591 | Doi | 10.1093/emboj/21.9.2207 |
| Citation | Espejel S, et al. (2002) Mammalian Ku86 mediates chromosomal fusions and apoptosis caused by critically short telomeres. EMBO J 21(9):2207-19 |
| abstractText | Here we analyze the functional interaction between Ku86 and telomerase at the mammalian telomere by studying mice deficient for both proteins. We show that absence of Ku86 prevents the end-to-end chromosomal fusions that result from critical telomere shortening in telomerase-deficient mice. In addition, Ku86 deficiency rescues the male early germ cell apoptosis triggered by short telomeres in these mice. Together, these findings define a role for Ku86 in mediating chromosomal instability and apoptosis triggered by short telomeres. In addition, we show here that Ku86 deficiency results in telomerase-dependent telomere elongation and in the fusion of random pairs of chromosomes in telomerase-proficient cells, suggesting a model in which Ku86 keeps normal-length telomeres less accessible to telomerase-mediated telomere lengthening and to DNA repair activities. |
