Structure of Tetrahymena telomerase reveals previously unknown subunits, functions, and interactions

Telomeres cap and protect the ends of our chromosomes. The telomerase complex helps maintain the telomere DNA repeat sequences. Telomerase consists of an RNA and a number of protein subunits. Jiang et al. used cryo–electron microscopy and x-ray crystallography to determine the structure of the Tetrahymena telomerase complex. The telomerase is made up of three subcomplexes, which include two previously unknown protein subunits in addition to the seven known subunits. The structures also reveal the path of the RNA component in the telomerase catalytic core. Science , this issue p. [10.1126/science.aab4070][1] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aab4070