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Studying Cell Cycle-regulated Gene Expression by Two Complementary Cell Synchronization Protocols
Published on: June 6, 2017
Telomerase reverse transcriptase regulates the expression of a key cell cycle regulator, cyclin D1
Shankar Jagadeesh1, Partha P Banerjee
1Department of Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|July 18, 2006
Summary
Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) impacts cell immortality and cancer. Beyond telomere maintenance, hTERT influences cyclin D1 expression, a key cell cycle regulator, suggesting novel roles in oncogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Cellular senescence is overcome by maintaining telomere stability.
- Telomerase, catalyzing telomeric DNA synthesis, is crucial for cellular immortality and oncogenesis.
- The precise role of telomerase in tumorigenesis beyond telomere stabilization is under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate non-canonical functions of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT).
- To elucidate the role of hTERT in regulating cell cycle progression.
Main Methods:
- Utilized loss-of-function and gain-of-function studies.
- Employed shRNA to down-regulate hTERT expression.
- Overexpressed hTERT in human prostate epithelial cell lines (DU-145 and BPH-1).
Main Results:
- hTERT down-regulation reduced cyclin D1 expression and transcriptional activity.
- hTERT overexpression increased cyclin D1 expression and transcriptional activity.
- Observed these effects in DU-145 and BPH-1 cell lines.
Conclusions:
- hTERT possesses functions beyond telomere length regulation.
- hTERT modulates the expression and activity of cyclin D1, a critical cell cycle regulator.
- These findings suggest a novel role for hTERT in cell cycle control and potentially oncogenesis.
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