Life on the edge: Telomeres and persistent dna breaks converge at the nuclear periphery

Abstract

Persistent DNA double-strand breaks and telomeres represent genomic hazards, as they can instigate inappropriate repair reactions. Two recent papers by Oza and colleagues (pp. 912-917) and Schober and colleagues (pp. 928-938) show that both types of DNA ends are sequestered from bulk DNA by Mps3, a SUN domain protein that spans the inner nuclear membrane. Anchorage maintains telomere integrity and steers double- strand breaks toward specialized repair pathways. This work defines the nuclear periphery as a subcompartment where dangerous DNA elements can be handled with care. © 2009 by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press ISSN .