The Genetic Basis of Natural Variation in Caenorhabditis elegans Telomere Length.

摘要: Telomeres are involved in the maintenance of chromosomes and prevention genome instability. Despite this central importance, significant variation telomere length has been observed a variety organisms. The genetic determinants telomere-length their effects on organismal fitness largely unexplored. Here, we describe natural across Caenorhabditis elegans species. We identify large-effect variant that contributes to differences length. alters conserved oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide-binding fold protection telomeres 2 (POT-2), homolog human telomere-capping shelterin complex subunit. Mutations within domain likely reduce ability POT-2 bind telomeric DNA, thereby increasing find does not correlate with offspring production or longevity C. wild isolates, suggesting naturally long play limited role modifying phenotypes elegans.