The yeast TEL1 gene partially substitutes for human ATM in suppressing hyperrecombination, radiation-induced apoptosis and telomere shortening in A-T cells

Mol Biol Cell. 2000 Aug;11(8):2605-16. doi: 10.1091/mbc.11.8.2605.

Abstract

Homozygous mutations in the human ATM gene lead to a pleiotropic clinical phenotype of ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) patients and correlating cellular deficiencies in cells derived from A-T donors. Saccharomyces cerevisiae tel1 mutants lacking Tel1p, which is the closest sequence homologue to the ATM protein, share some of the cellular defects with A-T. Through genetic complementation of A-T cells with the yeast TEL1 gene, we provide evidence that Tel1p can partially compensate for ATM in suppressing hyperrecombination, radiation-induced apoptosis, and telomere shortening. Complementation appears to be independent of p53 activation. The data provided suggest that TEL1 is a functional homologue of human ATM in yeast, and they help to elucidate different cellular and biochemical pathways in human cells regulated by the ATM protein.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / radiation effects*
  • Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cell Line, Transformed
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Fibroblasts
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / physiology*
  • Gamma Rays
  • Genetic Complementation Test
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Mutation
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / physiology*
  • Recombination, Genetic*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Telomere / metabolism*
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / radiation effects
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • ATM protein, human
  • Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • TEL1 protein, S cerevisiae