---
title: "Sequential Assembly Mechanism Drives Stable Cdc13 Dimerization on Telomeric DNA"
id: "biorxiv-17-a-sequential-assembly-mechanism-for-stable-cdc13-dimerization-on-telomeric-dna"
canonical_url: "https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/biorxiv-17-a-sequential-assembly-mechanism-for-stable-cdc13-dimerization-on-telomeric-dna"
content_type: "clinical_feed_article"
specialty: "General"
source_name: "bioRxiv (Biomedical Preprints)"
source_url: "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.01.748474v1?rss=1"
published_at: "2026-09-02T12:00:00.000Z"
evidence_level: "Verified Feed"
license: "CC-BY-NC-4.0 / Informational Use"
---
# Sequential Assembly Mechanism Drives Stable Cdc13 Dimerization on Telomeric DNA
## Provenance & Clinical Metadata
- **Canonical URL:** https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/biorxiv-17-a-sequential-assembly-mechanism-for-stable-cdc13-dimerization-on-telomeric-dna
- **Specialty:** [General](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/general.md)
- **Primary Source:** bioRxiv (Biomedical Preprints)
- **Source URL:** [Original Journal Publication](https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.01.748474v1?rss=1)
- **Published At:** 2026-09-02T12:00:00.000Z
- **Evidence Rating:** Verified Feed
## Executive GIST (TL;DR)
- The telomere-binding protein **Cdc13** binds single-stranded telomeric DNA and regulates telomere protection and length. - Using two single-molecule approaches, single-molecule FRET (smFRET) and colocalization single-molecule spectroscopy (CoSMoS), the study examined how Cdc13 loads onto telomeric DNA. - Data show Cdc13 first loads as a **monomer** on telomeric DNA and is subsequently joined by a second monomer, forming a **stable dimer** on a 12-nucleotide telomeric segment. - The observed monomer-to-dimer transition provides a mechanistic explanation for how Cdc13 coordinates telomere synthesis and protection. - Prior genetic evidence indicates that monomeric Cdc13 binding alone is not sufficient to maintain telomere length, highlighting the functional importance of the dimer state. - The experimental work focuses on dynamic assembly on short telomeric substrates; details such as exact kinetics, binding affinities, or broader in vivo validation were not reported in the source. - The study was reported as a preprint on bioRxiv and the authors declared no competing interests. - Overall, the findings link single-molecule observations of a sequential assembly process to previously recognized multi-task roles of Cdc13 in telomere biology.
## Clinical Analysis & Structured Key Points
A Sequential Assembly Mechanism for Stable Cdc13 Dimerization on Telomeric DNA | bioRxiv Skip to main content New Results A Sequential Assembly Mechanism for Stable Cdc13 Dimerization on Telomeric DNA Po-Wei Chiu , Yu-Ting Lin , Pei-Ru Lai , Tzu-Yu Lee , Yu-Chen Cheng , Yan-Zhu Hsieh , Hung-Wen Li , Jing-Jer Lin doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.09.01.748474 Po-Wei Chiu National Taiwan University, Taiwan Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Yu-Ting Lin National Taiwan University, Taiwan Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Pei-Ru Lai National Taiwan University, Taiwan Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Tzu-Yu Lee National Taiwan University, Taiwan Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Yu-Chen Cheng National Taiwan University, Taiwan Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Yan-Zhu Hsieh National Taiwan University, Taiwan Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Hung-Wen Li National Taiwan University, Taiwan Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site For correspondence: hwli{at}ntu.edu.tw Jing-Jer Lin National Taiwan University, Taiwan Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Abstract Info/History Metrics Preview PDF Abstract The telomere-binding protein Cdc13 specifically binds to single-stranded telomeric DNA, playing a critical role in telomere protection and length regulation. While extensive biochemical, molecular biological, and genetic studies have shown that Cdc13 can form dimers or oligomers in solution and bind telomeric DNA with high specificity, the dynamic mechanism of its loading onto telomeres is less well characterized. Using two single-molecule methods, single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) and colocalization single-molecule spectroscopy (CoSMoS), we demonstrate that Cdc13 initially loads onto telomeres as a monomer. This is followed by the recruitment of a second monomer, forming a stable Cdc13 dimer on a 12-nucleotide telomeric DNA segment. Although genetic studies suggest that monomeric Cdc13 binding alone is insufficient to maintain telomere length, it underscores the Cdc13 monomer’s regulatory importance in coordinating telomere synthesis and protection. This monomer-to-dimer transition provides a mechanistic basis for understanding the multi-tasked roles of Cdc13 in telomere replication and protection. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. Copyright The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under a CC-BY 4.0 International license . Back to top Previous Next Posted September 02, 2026. Download PDF Email Thank you for your interest in spreading the word about bioRxiv. NOTE: Your email address is requested solely to identify you as the sender of this article. Your Email * Your Name * Send To * Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas. You are going to email the following A Sequential Assembly Mechanism for Stable Cdc13 Dimerization on Telomeric DNA Message Subject (Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from bioRxiv Message Body (Your Name) thought you would like to see this page from the bioRxiv website. 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Share A Sequential Assembly Mechanism for Stable Cdc13 Dimerization on Telomeric DNA Po-Wei Chiu , Yu-Ting Lin , Pei-Ru Lai , Tzu-Yu Lee , Yu-Chen Cheng , Yan-Zhu Hsieh , Hung-Wen Li , Jing-Jer Lin bioRxiv 2026.09.01.748474; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.09.01.748474 Share This Article: Copy Citation Tools A Sequential Assembly Mechanism for Stable Cdc13 Dimerization on Telomeric DNA Po-Wei Chiu , Yu-Ting Lin , Pei-Ru Lai , Tzu-Yu Lee , Yu-Chen Cheng , Yan-Zhu Hsieh , Hung-Wen Li , Jing-Jer Lin bioRxiv 2026.09.01.748474; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.09.01.748474 Citation Manager Formats BibTeX Bookends EasyBib EndNote (tagged) EndNote 8 (xml) Medlars Mendeley Papers RefWorks Tagged Ref Manager RIS Zotero Tweet Widget Facebook Like Google Plus One Subject Areas All Articles Animal Behavior and Cognition (7953) Biochemistry (18602) Bioengineering (14744) Bioinformatics (44050) Biophysics (22431) Cancer Biology (19557) Cell Biology (26708) Clinical Trials (138) Developmental Biology (13874) Ecology (20842) Epidemiology (2067) Evolutionary Biology (25267) Genetics (16084) Genomics (23365) Immunology (18560) Microbiology (42156) Molecular Biology (17924) Neuroscience (92702) Paleontology (693) Pathology (2964) Pharmacology and Toxicology (5054) Physiology (8040) Plant Biology (15881) Scientific Communication and Education (2090) Synthetic Biology (4532) Systems Biology (10168) Zoology (2371)
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