Cells with dysfunctional telomeres are susceptible to reactive oxygen species hydrogen peroxide via generation of multichromosomal fusions and chromosomal fragments bearing telomeres

During genotoxic stress, reactive oxygen species hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a prime mediator of the DNA damage response. Telomeres function both to assist in DNA damage repair and to inhibit chromosomal end-to-end fusion. Here, we show that telomere dysfunction renders cells susceptible to H2O2, via generation of multichromosomal fusion and chromosomal fragments. H2O2 caused formation of multichromosomal end-to-end fusions involving more than three chromosomes, preferentially when telomeres were erosive. Interestingly, extensive chromosomal fragmentation (yielding small-sized fragments) occurred only in cells exhibiting such multichromosomal fusions. Telomeres were absent from fusion points, being rather present in the small fragments, indicating that H2O2 cleaves chromosomal regions adjacent to telomeres. Restoration of telomere function or addition of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine prevented development of chromosomal aberrations and rescued the observed hypersensitivity to H2O2. Thus, chromosomal regions adjacent to telomeres become sensitive to reactive oxygen species hydrogen peroxide when telomeres are dysfunctional, and are cleaved to produce multichromosomal fusions and small chromosomal fragments bearing the telomeres.

► Under conditions of telomere erosion, cells become extremely sensitive to H2O2.
► Chromosomal regions adjacent to telomeres are cleaved by H2O2 under such conditions.
► H2O2 thus causes multichromosomal fusions and generation of small chromosomal fragments.
► N-acetylcysteine prevents H2O2-induced chromosomal aberrations.