Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
08:26
Semi-quantitative Detection of RNA-dependent RNA Polymerase Activity of Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Protein
Published on: June 12, 2018
Reverse transcriptase activity associated with haemic neoplasia in the soft-shell clam Mya arenaria
M AboElkhair1, A Siah, K F Clark
1Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island C1A 4P3, Canada.
Diseases of Aquatic Organisms
|May 8, 2009
Summary
Reverse transcriptase (RT) activity correlates with haemic neoplasia (HN) progression in clams. Elevated RT levels indicate disease advancement, suggesting RT as a potential biomarker for HN.
Area of Science:
- Marine biology
- Environmental toxicology
- Cellular pathology
Background:
- Haemic neoplasia (HN) in bivalves has been linked to reverse transcriptase (RT) activity.
- RT is a hallmark of retroviruses, leading to its consideration as evidence for a retroviral cause of HN.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between RT levels and the progression of HN in soft-shell clams (Mya arenaria).
- To determine if RT levels can serve as a biomarker for HN staging.
Main Methods:
- Quantification of RT levels using the TaqMan product-enhanced RT (TM-PERT) assay.
- Estimation of tetraploid cell percentages in clam hemolymph via flow cytometry.
Main Results:
- A strong positive correlation (R2 = 0.974, p < 0.001) was found between RT levels and the percentage of tetraploid cells.
- Significantly elevated RT activity was observed in clams with 10-20% and 30-80% tetraploid cells compared to HN-negative controls.
- Increased RT levels at approximately 30% tetraploidy coincided with reported p53 gene expression.
Conclusions:
- RT levels are a reliable indicator of HN progression in Mya arenaria.
- A tetraploidy threshold of approximately 30% may signify a critical, potentially irreversible stage of HN.
- Findings support the role of non-telomeric RT in transformed cells, as observed in mammalian models.
