Telomeres in the absence of telomerase in saccharomyces cerevisiae

The aim of this study was to screen a list of proteins which were suggested to have roles in telomerase-independent telomere maintenance. Of the proteins screened some had no effect on post-senescent survival (Nup53p and Crp1p). Other proteins are suggested to function in post-senescent survival (M1p1p, M1p2p, Dhh1p, Rrm3p and Stm1p).;The importance of the affect of the chromatin context on post-senescent survival was identified with proteins involved in chromatin remodelling (Chd1p, Isw1p and Isw2p) and modifying (Rdp3p) identified as also affecting survival. Of particular interest was the strain dependency of their effects, with opposing roles in post-senescent survival in the YP1 and Y55 strains. More work is needed to fully characterise these roles. Their effects on post-senescent survival could be by them directly affecting the telomeric and subtelomeric chromatin or by indirectly affecting the chromatin of the rest of the genome, and hence the transcription of other genes involved in post-senescent survival.;In agreement with previous studies a role for Exo1p in post-senescent survival was identified. In addition the other RAD2 family members (Rad27p, Rad2p, Din7p and Yen1p) were also found to be involved in post-senescent survival. The RAD2 family members are involved in either inhibiting Type I or promoting Type II survival mechanisms immediately following senescence. The data is also suggestive of a role for the family in maintaining post-senescent survival.