Noncoding telomere repeat–containing RNA (TERRA) expressed from chromosome ends can form RNA-DNA hybrids at telomeres, but how this influences telomere length is unclear. Now, TERRA RNA-DNA hybrids are shown to promote telomere recombination and delay senescence in cells lacking telomerase, establishing a function for TERRA in telomere-length maintenance.
- Bettina Balk
- André Maicher
- Brian Luke
