Telomerase and Retrotransposons: Reverse Transcriptases
that Shaped Genomes
Organized by M. Joan Curcio, Neal Lue, and Marlene Belfort
September 29-30, 2010
Irvine, California
Meeting Overview:
Misregulation of telomerase and retrotransposon reverse transcriptases has been implicated in genome restructuring events that promote cancer and aging. A central question in genome biology is how the activity of reverse transcriptases has been modified and harnessed throughout archaeal, bacterial, and eukaryotic evolution to generate diversity and at the same time, participate in the maintenance of genome integrity. It has been appreciated for quite some time that telomerase and retrotransposon reverse transcriptases exhibit a number of mechanistic similarities and are likely to share a common origin. More recent biochemical, functional and phylogenetic analyses only serve to reinforce a deep-seated connection between these two families of polymerases. In recognition of the 40th anniversary of the discovery of reverse transcriptase, this colloquium brouthg researchers in the two fields together to identify common and distinguishing attri butes of telomerase and retrotransposon reverse transcriptases. Recent advances in understanding the chemistry, biology and evolution of these two classes of reverse transcriptases, and the implications of these studies for improving human health were examined.
Video Available
Session I. Telomerases and Retrotransposon RTs: Catalysis, Structure, Lifestyle
Chair, Julie Feigon
Introductions and Opening Remarks, Joan Curcio
The molecular perspective of telomerase template translocation
Julian Chen
The mechanisms and diversity of yeast telomerase
Neal Lue
Human telomerase holoenzyme and stem cell
Steve Artandi
Human LINE-1 retrotransposition
John Moran
Reverse transcriptase structure and function
Stephen Hughes
Session II. Telomerases and Retrotransposon RTs: RNA-Protein Interactions and RNP Biogenesis
Chair, Virginia Zakian
Telomerase RNA structure and dynamics
Juli Feigon
Telomerase RNP assembly and catalysis
Kathy Collins
HIV-I RT-nucleic acid interactions
Xiaowei Zhuang
Ty3 RNP assembly
Suzanne Sandmeyer
Retrotransposons in neurogenesis
Fred Gage
Noitpircsnart
David Baltimore
Session III. Roles of the RTs In Maintaining and Shaping the Genome
Chair, Neal Lue
Telomerase regulation
Vicki Lundblad
Roles of TERT complexes in transformation
William Hahn
Multiple non-telomerase mechanisms contribute to telomeremaintenance in tumors and primary mammalian cells
Tammy Morrish
Transcriptional activation of TINF2, a gene encoding the telomere-associated protein TIN2, by SP1 and NF-KB factors
Hinh Ly
Group II intron retromobility shapes genomes
Marlene Belfort
Retrotransposons and genome structure
Joan Curcio
Yeast telomeres and telomerase
Virginia Zakian
Session IV: Evolution and Future Perspectives
Chair, Joan Curcio
Duplication and diversification of telomerase subunits in Arabidopsis: new models for telomerase regulation
Dorothy Shippen
Retrotransposon reverse transcriptases
Thomas Eickbush
Transposable elements as dedicated components of eukaryotic chromosomes
Mary Lou Pardue
The initiation of reverse transcription by L1 elements requires a 3' overhang
Gael Cristofari
Target-primed retrotransposons and telomeres
Irina Arkhipova
Retrotransposons and telomeres
Daniel Voytas
