When ATPases pontin and reptin met telomerase

Pontin and reptin are conserved AAA+ ATPases identified in chromatin-remodeling complexes. In a recent issue of Cell, Venteicher et al. provide new insight into the function of pontin and reptin in telomerase biogenesis, which is important for cellular senescence, aging, and cancer. These unexpected findings have implications for new avenues for development of effective therapeutic drugs in human disease.