Template boundary in a yeast telomerase specified by RNA structure

Yehuda Tzfati, Tracy B. Fulton, Jagoree Roy, Elizabeth H. Blackburn*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

117 Scopus citations

Abstract

The telomerase ribonucleoprotein has a phylogenetically divergent RNA subunit, which contains a short template for telomeric DNA synthesis. To understand how telomerase RNA participates in mechanistic aspects of telomere synthesis, we studied a conserved secondary structure adjacent to the template. Disruption of this structure caused DNA synthesis to proceed beyond the normal template boundary, resulting in altered telomere sequences, telomere shortening, and cellular growth defects. Compensatory mutations restored normal telomerase function. Thus, the RNA structure, rather than its sequence, specifies the template boundary. This study reveals a specific function for an RNA structure in the enzymatic action of telomerase.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)863-867
Number of pages5
JournalScience
Volume288
Issue number5467
DOIs
StatePublished - 5 May 2000
Externally publishedYes

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