Telomere protein RAP1 is found in organisms from yeast to mammals, but has different functions. Now the crystal structures of the RAP1 C-terminus (RCT) with its different interacting partners, together with functional analyses, reveal a conserved interaction module used by mammalian and fission yeast Rap1 to interact with TRF2 and Taz1, respectively, to mediate telomere protection. In contrast, in budding yeast this module recruits Sir3 to telomeres to mediate transcriptional silencing.
- Yong Chen
- Rekha Rai
- Ming Lei
