Telomeric Chromatin and TERRA

Chromatin function in telomeres is poorly understood, but it is generally viewed as repressive. Yet, telomeric DNA sequences are transcribed into long non-coding RNAs named TElomere Repeat-containing RNA (TERRA). As TERRA molecules mostly localize at telomeres, major research efforts have been made to understand their functions, and how TERRA transcription is regulated and affects telomere structure. This review describes the current state of knowledge about the nature of chromatin at telomeres, its functions, and the relation between chromatin structure and TERRA. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.