The RNA component of human telomerase

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Genetics
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Eukaryotic chromosomes have protective telomere sequences at their ends.
• Telomere synthesis is carried out by the ribonucleic acid (RNA)-protein complex, telomerase.
• The RNA component of human telomerase is known as hTR.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the cloning of the RNA component of human telomerase (hTR).
• To investigate the role of hTR in telomere maintenance and cancer cell proliferation.

Main Methods:

• Cloning of the hTR component of human telomerase.
• Analysis of hTR expression in various human tissues and cell lines.
• Mutation of the hTR template region and assessment of telomerase activity.
• Antisense hTR transfection in HeLa cells to observe effects on telomere length and cell viability.

Main Results:

• The template region of hTR (11 nucleotides) is complementary to telomere sequences.
• Germline and tumor cells show higher hTR expression than normal somatic cells.
• Mutated hTR generated predicted mutant telomerase activity.
• Antisense hTR transfection led to telomere shortening and cell death in HeLa cells.

Conclusions:

• Human telomerase, via hTR, is essential for maintaining telomere length.
• hTR plays a critical role in the long-term proliferation of immortal tumor cells.
• Targeting hTR could be a strategy to inhibit cancer cell growth.