Cloning Components of Human Telomerase.
Abstract
Telomerase, the enzyme which maintains the repetitive DNA sequences found at the ends of chromosomes, is an excellent candidate for an anti-tumor drug target. Almost all cancer cells have and need telomerase, while normal somatic cell neither have nor need telomerase. Human telomerase contains at least three components: a catalytic reverse transcriptase called hTRT; an RNA molecule called hTR that provides the template for the reverse transcriptase, and a protein of undefined function called TP 1 or TLP 1. We are attempting to find additional components of human telomerase. We have used a three-hybrid screen to find additional molecules that bind to the telomerase RNA. We have found some promising candidate binders, including (1) DEK, (2) poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, (3) the human Rad2l homolog, and (4) c-myc. We are now assessing the in vivo relevance of these proteins to telomerase function. We have shown that in vitro, telomerase activity can be reconstituted with just two components, hTRT and hTR.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA360889
Entities
People
- Allen B. Futcher
Organizations
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory