Julie Cooper

Telomere function through the cell cycle in fission yeast

Telomeres play crucial roles in the maintenance of genomic stability, as they protect chromosome ends from inappropriate degradation and fusion reactions. Studies in my lab have focused on the changing roles of telomere proteins as the cell cycle progresses.

We use fission yeast as a model system, as this organism not only harbors telomeres very similar to those of humans, but also allows rigorous genetic analyses coupled with cytological, physiological and biochemical approaches. For instance, we have recently defined roles for the telomere complex in promoting semi-conservative DNA replication through telomeres, coordinating conventional telomere replication with telomerase activation, controlling formation of the meiotic spindle, and setting up a telomere-specific chromatin architecture.

We have an array of projects aimed at identifying the molecular transitions that underlie these changing telomere functions.

References

Tomita K and Cooper JP. The telomere bouquet controls the meiotic spindle. Cell 2007; 130: 113-126.

Miller KM, et al. Semi-conservative DNA replication through telomeres requires Taz1. Nature 2006; 430: 824-828.

Miller KM, et al. Taz1, Rap1 and Rif1 act both inter-dependently and independently to maintain telomeres. EMBO J 2005; 24: 3128-3135.

Ferreira MG and Cooper JP. Two modes of DNA double-strand break repair are reciprocally regulated through the fission yeast cell cycle. Genes & Dev 2004; 18: 2249-2254.

Ferreira MG, Miller, KM and Cooper JP. Indecent exposure: when telomeres become uncapped. Molecular Cell 2004; 13: 7-18.