The structure of human CST reveals a decameric assembly bound to telomeric DNA

Abstract

Architecture of DNA-organizing complex The highly conserved mammalian CTC1-STN1-TEN1 (CST) complex is critical for genome stability and telomere maintenance. Lim et al. solved the structure of the human CST complex using cryo–electron microscopy. CST forms an unprecedented and substantial decameric supercomplex triggered by telomeric single-stranded binding. This decameric form with single-stranded DNA–binding capacity of up to 10 telomeric repeats, suggested the possibility of CST organizing telomere overhangs into compact and restrictive structures in a manner similar to the nucleosome's organization of double-stranded DNA. This work provides a platform for understanding the mechanisms of various CST functions. Science , this issue p. 1081