Structural and functional insights into yeast Tbf1 as an atypical telomeric repeat-binding factor.
Wu, Z., Gu, X., Zha, L., Yang, Q., Zhou, Y., Zeng, Z.(2024) Structure 32: 889-898.e3
- PubMed: 38677290 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.str.2024.04.002
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
8YNU - PubMed Abstract: 
Telomeric repeat-binding factor 1 (Tbf1) has a similar architecture as the TRF family of telomeric proteins and plays important roles in both telomere homeostasis and ribosome regulation. However, the molecular basis of why Tbf1 has such different functions compared to other TRFs remains unclear. Here, we present the crystal structures of the TRF homology (TRFH) and Myb-L domains from Schizosaccharomyces pombe Tbf1 (spTbf1). TRFH-mediated homodimerization is essential for spTbf1 stability. Importantly, spTbf1 TRFH lacks the conserved docking motif for interactions with telomeric proteins, explaining why spTbf1 does not participate in the assembly of the shelterin complex. Finally, structural and biochemical analyses demonstrate that TRFH and Myb-L domains as well as the loop region of spTbf1 coordinate to recognize S. pombe telomeric double-stranded DNA. Overall, our findings provide structural and functional insights into how fungi Tbf1 acts as an atypical telomeric repeat-binding factor, which helps to understand the evolution of TRFH-containing telomeric proteins.
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China. Electronic address: zhenfwu@ucas.ac.cn.
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