Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 26, 2026

Semi-quantitative Detection of RNA-dependent RNA Polymerase Activity of Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Protein
Published on: June 12, 2018
A role for a novel 'trans-pseudoknot' RNA-RNA interaction in the functional dimerization of human telomerase
Hinh Ly1, Lifeng Xu, Melissa A Rivera
1Departments of Pathology Microbiology, and Immunology, and Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143, USA.
Abstract:
The integral RNA (hTER) of the human telomerase ribonucleoprotein has a conserved secondary structure that contains a potential pseudoknot. Here we examine the role of an intermolecular hTER-hTER interaction in the previously reported functional dimerization of telomerase. We provide evidence that the two conserved, complementary sequences of one stem of the hTER pseudoknot domain can pair intermolecularly in vitro, and that formation of this stem as part of a novel "trans-pseudoknot" is required for telomerase to be active in its dimeric form. Such RNA-RNA interaction mirrors a known property of retroviral reverse transcriptases, which use homodimeric viral genomic RNA substrates.
Related Concept Videos
Telomeres and Telomerase
Telomeres and Telomerase
RNA Structure
Different Types of RNA Have the Same Basic Structure
There are three main types of ribonucleic acid (RNA) involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). All three...
RNA Structure
The basic structure of RNA consists of a five-carbon sugar and one of four nitrogenous bases. Although most RNA is single-stranded, it can form complex secondary and tertiary structures. Such structures play essential roles in the regulation of transcription and translation.
Different Types of RNA Have the Same Basic Structure
There are three main types of ribonucleic acid (RNA): messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). All three RNA types consist of a...
Transcription Initiation
The promoters and enhancers and their accessory proteins allow tight regulation of...
Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases
All three eukaryotic RNAPs require specific transcription factors, of which the...
