Multiple cellular mechanisms prevent chromosomal rearrangements involving repetitive DNA

Abstract

Repetitive DNA is present in the eukaryotic genome in the form of segmental duplications, tandem and interspersed repeats, and satellites. Repetitive sequences can be beneficial by serving specific cellular functions (e.g. centromeric and telomeric DNA) and by providing a rapid means for adaptive evolution. However, such elements are also substrates for deleterious chromosomal rearrangements that affect fitness and promote human disease. Recent studies analyzing the role of nuclear organization in DNA repair and factors that suppress non-allelic homologous recombination (NAHR) have provided insights into how genome stability is maintained in eukaryotes. In this review, we outline the types of repetitive sequences seen in eukaryotic genomes and how recombination mechanisms are regulated at the DNA sequence, cell organization, chromatin structure, and cell cycle control levels to prevent chromosomal rearrangements involving these sequences.

Keywords::

• Repetitive DNA
• genome stability
• genetic recombination
• DNA repair
• nuclear organization

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to members of the Alani lab and Amy Lyndaker for helpful discussions.

Declaration of interest

E.A. was supported by Award Number R01GM053085 from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. C.M.G. was funded by an NIH training grant awarded to Cornell University. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences or the National Institutes of Health.

Editor: Michael M. Cox