The yeast telomerase subunit Est1p has been implicated in recruitment of the telomerase complex to telomeres via its interaction with Cdc13p, but genetic data have pointed to an additional role for Est1p in telomere maintenance. Now Est1p is shown to convert G-rich telomeric DNA into G-quadruplex structures in vitro, and this activity is essential for telomere length maintenance in vivo.
- Ming-Liang Zhang
- Xia-Jing Tong
- Jin-Qiu Zhou
