Subtelomeres as specialized chromatin domains

Antoine Hocher (1, 2) , Angela Taddei (3)

1 PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres
2 LMC - MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences
3 Dynamique du noyau [Institut Curie]

Specificities associated with chromosomal linearity are not restricted to telomeres. Here, recent results obtained on fission and budding yeast are summarized and an attempt is made to define subtelomeres using chromatin features extending beyond the heterochromatin emanating from telomeres. Subtelomeres, the chromosome domains adjacent to telomeres, differ from the rest of the genome by their gene content, rapid evolution, and chromatin features that together contribute to organism adaptation. However, current definitions of subtelomeres are generally based on synteny and are largely gene‐centered. Taking into consideration both the peculiar gene content and dynamics as well as the chromatin properties of those domains, it is discussed how chromatin features can contribute to subtelomeric properties and functions, and play a pivotal role in the emergence of subtelomeres.

Mots clés: Subtelomere; Chromosome; Chromatin; Telomere; Histones; Chromatin evolution

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]

Antoine Hocher, Angela Taddei. Subtelomeres as specialized chromatin domains. BioEssays, 2020, 42 (5), pp.1900205. ⟨10.1002/bies.201900205⟩. ⟨hal-02873956⟩