A role for heterochromatin protein 1γ at human telomeres

Human telomere function is mediated by the shelterin complex. Smith and colleagues found that the shelterin component TIN2 associates with HP1γ via a conserved binding motif, which is required for S-phase sister chromatid cohesion and can impact telomere length maintenance. Mutations in this motif abrogate HP1γ binding and lead to defects in telomere maintenance, giving rise to dyskeratosis congenita