New genes and diversity leading to adaptation and evolution are
generated in special areas of genomes. One such area in all
eukaryotic genomes and in those prokaryotes with linear chromosomes
is the region near the ends of the chromosomes. These
telomere-associated sequences or subtelomeres, have different
properties than the rest of the genome and are one of the most
exciting frontiers left in genomics.
This book provides a broad introduction to the field of
subtelomeres with detailed information from various fields and
systems, covering yeasts and fungi, pathogens and parasites,
plants, insects, humans and primates and bacteria with linear
chromosomes. Advances in the field as well as continuing challenges
are discussed throughout. The mosaic nature of this collection and
the everchanging perspectives reflect the nature of subtelomeres
themselves.
Unlike the core of most genomes, which are conserved and stable
over time, subtelomeres are dynamic and polymorphic, so much so
that generally no two individuals look alike in these regions. The
dynamic nature of the region and the ability to change the copy
number, generate diversity and try novel combinations make it the
evolutionary tinker s toolbox. In many organisms the genes found in
the region are involved in dealing with the environment. In yeasts,
different gene families involved in sugar metabolism as well as
clumping together are found in subtelomeres and differences in the
region may be the reason why some strains are good for baking,
others for brewing and why some are pathogenic. In fungal plant and
animal pathogens, many of the genes involved in virulence are found
here. In humans and primates there are a number of gene families
that vary between ends, for example the diverse olfactory receptor
genes. Even in bacterial linear chromosomes the region contains
genes involved in adapting to their environments. Perhaps the
ultimate use of these regions is in parasites where they rapidly
adapt and escape from host immune systems through dynamic changes
to the proteins exposed to the host s defenses. Such dynamic,
polymorphic structures are also found in plants and insects though
it is not always clear what the function might be; in some cases
they take on the role of end maintenance. The dynamic, polymorphic
nature of subtelomeres, where many ends share segmental
duplications, is an exciting area for study but also presents a
difficult challenge from the technical perspective."
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