Fission yeast RPA-TERT-Tpz1TPP1 complex promotes telomere extension and suppresses telomere recombination.
A RPA-Trt1TERT-Tpz1TPP1 complex in fission yeast enhances telomere extension and prevents recombination, revealing four critical interaction interfaces.
- Why it matters: Understanding how telomerase is activated and recruited is vital for insights into chromosome stability and aging, yet the molecular mechanisms remain unclear.
- What they did: The study used genetic screening, AlphaFold3 structural modeling, and mutagenesis to identify four key interfaces—Ssb1RPA1-Trt1, Ssb2RPA2-Trt1, Ssb2RPA2-Tpz1, and Trt1-Tpz1—supporting telomerase function.
- The result: Findings suggest RPA is an essential component of active telomerase complexes, coordinating TERT and TPP1-like factors, with conserved interactions across species, advancing understanding of telomere maintenance.