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The crosstalk between telomeres and DNA repair mechanisms: an overview to mammalian somatic cells, germ cells, and preimplantation embryos

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Abstract

Telomeres are located at the ends of linear chromosomes and play a critical role in maintaining genomic stability by preventing premature activation of DNA repair mechanisms. Because of exposure to various genotoxic agents, telomeres can undergo shortening and genetic changes. In mammalian cells, the basic DNA repair mechanisms, including base excision repair, nucleotide excision repair, double-strand break repair, and mismatch repair, function in repairing potential damages in telomeres. If these damages are not repaired correctly in time, the unfavorable results such as apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and cancerous transition may occur. During lifespan, mammalian somatic cells, male and female germ cells, and preimplantation embryos experience a number of telomeric damages. Herein, we comprehensively reviewed the crosstalk between telomeres and the DNA repair mechanisms in the somatic cells, germ cells, and embryos. Infertility development resulting from possible defects in this crosstalk is also discussed in the light of existing studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Histology and Embryology, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Campus, 07070, Antalya, Turkey

    Betul Tire, Gunel Talibova & Saffet Ozturk

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  1. Betul Tire
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  2. Gunel Talibova
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  3. Saffet Ozturk
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SO, BT, and GT designed the study. BT and GT wrote the manuscript and created all the figures. SO critically read and revised the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Saffet Ozturk.

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Betul Tire and Gunel Talibova contributed to the manuscript equally.

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Tire, B., Talibova, G. & Ozturk, S. The crosstalk between telomeres and DNA repair mechanisms: an overview to mammalian somatic cells, germ cells, and preimplantation embryos. J Assist Reprod Genet 41, 277–291 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-023-03008-2

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