Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 27, 2026

Semi-quantitative Detection of RNA-dependent RNA Polymerase Activity of Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Protein
08:26

Semi-quantitative Detection of RNA-dependent RNA Polymerase Activity of Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Protein

Published on: June 12, 2018

Antisense Sp1 oligodeoxynucleotide decreases telomerase activity by inhibiting hTERT mRNA expression in Jurkat T

Jian-Xin Pang1, Xi-Yuan Cheng, Wei Xu

  • 1Institute of Pharmaceutic Sciences, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. pjx@fimmu.com

Acta Pharmacologica Sinica
|January 4, 2003
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Antisense Sp1 oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) effectively reduces Sp1 expression in Jurkat T cells. This inhibition leads to decreased human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA expression and telomerase activity.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research
  • Gene Regulation

Background:

  • Telomerase plays a crucial role in cell immortality and is often upregulated in cancer.
  • Sp1 is a transcription factor that can regulate the expression of hTERT, a key component of telomerase.
  • Targeting Sp1 offers a potential strategy to inhibit telomerase activity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of Sp1 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) on telomerase activity.
  • To examine the effect of Sp1 inhibition on human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression.

Main Methods:

  • Jurkat T cells were treated with Sp1 antisense ODN using lipofectamine.
  • Telomerase activity was measured using Telomerase PCR-ELISA.
  • Sp1 and hTERT mRNA levels were assessed by RT-PCR, and Sp1 protein levels by Western blot.

Main Results:

  • Sp1 antisense ODN significantly reduced Sp1 mRNA and protein levels in Jurkat T cells.
  • hTERT mRNA expression was suppressed by approximately 43.7% (P <0.01).
  • A dose-dependent inhibition of telomerase activity was observed, with reductions ranging from 27.1% to 64.6%.

Conclusions:

  • Antisense Sp1 ODN effectively inhibits Sp1 expression in Jurkat T cells.
  • The inhibition of Sp1 leads to decreased hTERT mRNA expression.
  • Sp1 antisense ODN reduces telomerase activity, suggesting a therapeutic target for cancers with high telomerase expression.

More Related Videos

Utilizing Murine Inducible Telomerase Alleles in the Studies of Tissue Degeneration/Regeneration and Cancer08:34

Utilizing Murine Inducible Telomerase Alleles in the Studies of Tissue Degeneration/Regeneration and Cancer

Published on: April 13, 2015

Related Concept Videos

Telomeres and Telomerase02:41

Telomeres and Telomerase

In eukaryotic DNA replication, a single-stranded DNA fragment remains at the end of a chromosome after the removal of the final primer. This section of DNA cannot be replicated in the same manner as the rest of the strand because there is no 3’ end to which the newly synthesized DNA can attach. This non-replicated fragment results in gradual loss of the chromosomal DNA during each cell duplication. Additionally, it can induce a DNA damage response by enzymes that recognize single-stranded DNA.
Replicative Cell Senescence02:15

Replicative Cell Senescence

Replicative cell senescence is a property of cells that allows them to divide a finite number of times throughout the organism's lifespan while preventing excessive proliferation. Replicative senescence is associated with the gradual loss of the telomere — short, repetitive DNA sequences found at the end of the chromosomes. Telomeres are bound by a group of proteins to form a protective cap on the ends of chromosomes. Embryonic stem cells express telomerase — an enzyme that adds the telomeric...
Experimental RNAi02:15

Experimental RNAi

RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular mechanism that inhibits gene expression by suppressing its transcription or activating the RNA degradation process. The mechanism was discovered by Andrew Fire and Craig Mello in 1998 in plants. Today, it is observed in almost all eukaryotes, including protozoa, flies, nematodes, insects, parasites, and mammals. This precise cellular mechanism of gene silencing has been developed into a technique that provides an efficient way to identify and determine the...
siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs02:30

siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs

Small interfering RNAs, or siRNAs, are short regulatory RNA molecules that can silence genes post-transcriptionally, as well as the transcriptional level in some cases. siRNAs are important for protecting cells against viral infections and silencing transposable genetic elements.
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the ATP-dependent...
Nonsense-mediated mRNA Decay02:27

Nonsense-mediated mRNA Decay

The Upf proteins that carry out nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) are found in all eukaryotic organisms, including humans. Each protein has an individual role, but they need to work in collaboration. Upf1 is an ATP-dependent RNA helicase that unwinds the RNA helix. Because Upf1 can unwind any RNA, Upf2 and Upf3 are required to help Upf1 discriminate between nonsense and normal mRNAs.
Usually, Upf3 binds to an Exon Junction Complex (EJC) at mRNA splice sites. If a ribosome fully translates the mRNA,...
RNA Interference01:23

RNA Interference

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...