Telomerase recruitment to telomeres.

The ability of most cancer cells to grow indefinitely relies on the presence of functional telomerase to maintain telomeres, thus circumventing normal cellular senescence. A key feature of telomerase functionality is the localization of the enzyme complex to telomeres, a process which is highly regulated. A number of recent studies have reported data with significant implications for our understanding of telomerase recruitment to telomeres. A picture is emerging that this process is governed by a number of factors including telomeric binding proteins, structural features of the enzyme complex, cell cycle regulated processes such as DNA replication, and components of the DNA damage response pathway. In this review we summarize recent findings relating to this fundamental process in eukaryotes. Copyright 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.