Reversibility of replicative senescence in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Effect of homologous recombination and cell cycle checkpoints

► Reversibility of senescence in yeast cells was tested using two approaches. ► Despite telomere damage, most cells were viable after telomerase reactivation. ► Mating of senescent cells with normal cells also restored growth capability. ► Rescue by telomerase differed in checkpoint mutants and recombination mutants. ► Cells rescued by telomerase exhibited shortened telomeres.