telomere complexes
Telomerase comprises the RNA component hTR, which includes the template for telomere DNA synthesis, and the protein catalytic component hTERT. Additional molecules have been implicated in regulating the in vivo activity of hTR-hTERT and the maintenance of telomere structure.
The proteins TRF1, TRF2, tankyrase, TIN2, RAP1 and POT1 are all involved in interacting with the telomere and might regulate the opening and closing of the free telomere end and access to the telomere by other protein complexes such as telomerase.
A variety of proteins and ribonucleoproteins including HSP90, as well as DKC1, L22, P23 and GAR1 (not shown), might also assist telomerase assembly and facilitate interactions between telomerase and the telomere.
Other proteins such as MRE11A, NBS1, KU70, KU80, DNAPK and ATM might function in the detection of short telomeres and trigger DNA-damage response pathways or the repair of telomere sequences.