The Caenorhabditis elegans Rad17 homolog HPR-17 is required for telomere replication

Subunits of the Rad9/Rad1/Hus1 (9-1-1) proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PNCA)-like sliding clamp are required for DNA damage responses and telomerase-mediated telomere replication in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. PCNA sliding clamps are loaded onto DNA by a replication factor C (RFC) clamp loader. The C. elegans Rad17 RFC clamp loader homolog, hpr-17, functions in the same pathway as the 9-1-1 complex with regard to both the DNA damage response and telomerase-mediated telomere elongation. Thus, hpr-17 defines an RFC-like complex that facilitates telomerase activity in vivo in C. elegans.