DNA damage response and repair enzyme complexes typically do not recognize telomeres in their "capped" state . This is due to their ability to "shelter," or safeguard the chromosome extremities . Telomere shortening, which destabilizes telomere loops, elevates the probability of telomere decapping . Studies have shown that telomere decapping causes the same DNA damage response as DSBs , whether it's done by blocking TRF2 or shortening the telomeres.