Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 30, 2025

08:34
Utilizing Murine Inducible Telomerase Alleles in the Studies of Tissue Degeneration/Regeneration and Cancer
Published on: April 13, 2015
10.4K
Multiple Actions of Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase in Cell Death Regulation
Anastasia I Palamarchuk1, Elena I Kovalenko1, Maria A Streltsova1
1Shemyakin & Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ul. Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia.
Biomedicines
|May 16, 2023
Summary
Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) has functions beyond telomere maintenance, impacting cell survival and stress responses. This review explores TERT
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is a key component of telomerase, traditionally known for telomere maintenance.
- Emerging evidence highlights TERT's diverse roles beyond telomere lengthening, including involvement in various cellular signaling pathways.
- TERT's varied intracellular locations correlate with its multifaceted functional activities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively review the role of TERT in regulating cell death.
- To elucidate TERT's interactions with signaling pathways crucial for cell survival and stress response.
- To provide a deeper understanding of TERT's non-canonical functions in cellular processes.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing studies on TERT function.
- Analysis of data linking TERT to cell death regulation.
- Examination of TERT's interactions with signaling pathways involved in cell survival and stress.
Main Results:
- TERT participates in cell stress responses, gene regulation, and mitochondrial function.
- Upregulation of TERT and telomerase activity are associated with enhanced cell survival and persistence, particularly in cancer.
- TERT influences cell death pathways through interactions with multiple signaling cascades.
Conclusions:
- TERT plays a significant role in cell death regulation, extending beyond its canonical telomere maintenance function.
- TERT's involvement in cell survival and stress response pathways is critical for cellular persistence.
- Further research into TERT's diverse functions can offer new insights into cancer biology and therapeutic strategies.
Related Concept Videos
Telomeres and Telomerase
23.6K
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...
23.6K
Replicative Cell Senescence
3.7K
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...
3.7K
Overview of Cell Death
7.4K
Cell death is an essential process where the body gets rid of old or damaged cells. Cell proliferation and death need to be balanced, as an imbalance between the two may lead to cancer or autoimmune diseases.
Cell death was observed in the early 19th century, but there was no experimental evidence to prove it. In 1842, Carl Vogt first discovered cell death in a metamorphic toad; however, it was not termed ‘cell death.’ Scientists discovered different cell death pathways only in the...
Cell death was observed in the early 19th century, but there was no experimental evidence to prove it. In 1842, Carl Vogt first discovered cell death in a metamorphic toad; however, it was not termed ‘cell death.’ Scientists discovered different cell death pathways only in the...
7.4K
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
6.5K
The extrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated when extracellular death-inducing signals, such as specific cytokines, activate the death receptors expressed on the cell surface. The immune cells involved in this pathway are natural killer cells (NK cells) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. NK cells are critical in innate immune response, while cytotoxic T-lymphocytes are associated with adaptive immune response. These cells recognize specific receptors expressed on the altered cells and activate...
6.5K
DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle
9.2K
In response to DNA damage, cells can pause the cell cycle to assess and repair the breaks. However, the cell must check the DNA at certain critical stages during the cell cycle. If the cell cycle pauses before DNA replication, the cells will contain twice the amount of DNA. On the other hand, if cells arrest after DNA replication but before mitosis, they will contain four times the normal amount of DNA. With a host of specialized proteins at their disposal,cells must use the right protein at...
9.2K
Apoptosis
11.6K
Apoptosis is a combination of two Greek words, 'apo' and 'ptosis,' meaning separation and falling off, respectively. Hippocrates used this word to describe gangrene, which was caused due to bandaging of fractured bones. Apoptosis was distinguished from necrosis in 1970 when John Kerr reported observations of morphological changes occurring during apoptosis. During one experiment, he observed that the disruption of blood supply to the liver tissue resulted in a size...
11.6K

