Annotation: Termini of linear chromosomes - telomeres are composed of DNA repetitive sequences and specifically binding proteins. The telomeric proteins have ability to modulate structure of telomeric DNA into loops. Thus, telomeric proteins shelter the very ends of DNA from their unwanted recognition as double-strand breaks by reparation system of the cell. In addition, higher complexes formed by telomeric proteins regulate access of enzyme telomerase which can extend telomeric DNA. The length of telomeric DNA is important molecular marker of cell cycle stage. Consequently, the telomere length control is closely connected with cell aging and cancerogenesis. The aim of this work is to characterize quantitatively interactions that participate in human telomeric complex formation. Protein constructs of human telomeric complex – shelterin will be expressed and their interaction will be assayed in vitro. The binding of telomeric proteins and DNA will be described using a combination biochemical and biophysical approaches in order to obtain new insights into structural a and functional dynamics of telomeres. Seznam odborné literatury: References: de Lange, T. (2009) How telomeres solve the end-protection problem. Science, 326: 948-52. Hofr, C., Sultesová, P., Zimmermann, M., Mozgová, I., Procházková Schrumpfová, P., Wimmerová, M., Fajkus, J.(2009) Single-Myb-histone proteins from Arabidopsis thaliana: a quantitative study of telomere-binding specificity and kinetics. Biochemical Journal.;419:221-8.