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[Telomere and telomerase associated genes]
1Dept. of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, Japan.
Gan to Kagaku Ryoho. Cancer & Chemotherapy
|January 9, 1998
Summary
The human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTRT) gene
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Biochemistry
Context:
- Telomerase is a key enzyme maintaining telomere length.
- Understanding telomerase components is crucial for cellular processes.
- Human telomerase RNA (hTR) and protein subunits are partially identified.
Purpose:
- To identify and characterize the human telomerase catalytic subunit.
- To investigate the expression and correlation of hTRT with telomerase activity.
- To explore the potential of hTRT as a cancer diagnostic marker.
Summary:
- The human telomerase catalytic subunit, hTRT (also known as hEST2), has been cloned.
- hTRT expression correlates with telomerase activity and cellular immortality.
- Elevated hTRT expression is observed in cancer tissues compared to normal tissues.
Impact:
- hTRT cloning provides a new tool for studying telomerase.
- The correlation between hTRT expression and telomerase activity offers insights into cellular aging and cancer.
- hTRT and telomerase activity show potential as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis.