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Wang X, Deng H, Lin J, Zhang K, Ni J, Li L, Fan G. Distinct roles of telomerase activity in age-related chronic diseases: An update literature review. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 167:115553. [PMID: 37738798 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Although telomerase has low activity in somatic quiescent cells, it plays an significant roles in regenerative cells such as endothelial cells, hepatocytes, epithelial cells, and hemocytes. Telomerase activity and telomere length are critical factors in age-related chronic diseases as they are closely related to cell senescence. However, whether telomerase activity plays a key role in disease progression or whether the role of telomerase is unified among different diseases are unresolved. Considering that aging is the most important risk factor for neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases, this article will analyze the evidence, mechanism, and therapeutic potential of telomerase activity in several chronic disease, including type 2 diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, atherosclerosis, heart failure and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, in order to provide clues for the use of telomerase activity to target the treatment of age-related chronic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodan Wang
- Medical Experiment Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Translational Research of TCM Prescription and Syndrome, National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 300381 Tianjin, China
| | - Hao Deng
- Medical Experiment Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Translational Research of TCM Prescription and Syndrome, National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 300381 Tianjin, China
| | - Jingyi Lin
- Medical Experiment Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Translational Research of TCM Prescription and Syndrome, National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 300381 Tianjin, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Medical Experiment Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Translational Research of TCM Prescription and Syndrome, National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 300381 Tianjin, China
| | - Jingyu Ni
- Medical Experiment Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Translational Research of TCM Prescription and Syndrome, National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 300381 Tianjin, China
| | - Lan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formulae for the Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Guanwei Fan
- Medical Experiment Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Translational Research of TCM Prescription and Syndrome, National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 300381 Tianjin, China.
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Nelson N, Feurstein S, Niaz A, Truong J, Holien JK, Lucas S, Fairfax K, Dickinson J, Bryan TM. Functional genomics for curation of variants in telomere biology disorder associated genes: A systematic review. Genet Med 2023; 25:100354. [PMID: 36496180 DOI: 10.1016/j.gim.2022.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Patients with an underlying telomere biology disorder (TBD) have variable clinical presentations, and they can be challenging to diagnose clinically. A genomic diagnosis for patients presenting with TBD is vital for optimal treatment. Unfortunately, many variants identified during diagnostic testing are variants of uncertain significance. This complicates management decisions, delays treatment, and risks nonuptake of potentially curative therapies. Improved application of functional genomic evidence may reduce variants of uncertain significance classifications. METHODS We systematically searched the literature for published functional assays interrogating TBD gene variants. When possible, established likely benign/benign and likely pathogenic/pathogenic variants were used to estimate the assay sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and odds of pathogenicity. RESULTS In total, 3131 articles were screened and 151 met inclusion criteria. Sufficient data to enable a PS3/BS3 recommendation were available for TERT variants only. We recommend that PS3 and BS3 can be applied at a moderate and supportive level, respectively. PS3/BS3 application was limited by a lack of assay standardization and limited inclusion of benign variants. CONCLUSION Further assay standardization and assessment of benign variants are required for optimal use of the PS3/BS3 criterion for TBD gene variant classification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niles Nelson
- The Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, The University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; Department of Molecular Medicine, The Royal Hobart Hospital, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; Department of Molecular Haematology, The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Simone Feurstein
- Section of Hematology, Oncology, and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Aram Niaz
- Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jia Truong
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jessica K Holien
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sionne Lucas
- The Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, The University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Kirsten Fairfax
- The Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, The University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Joanne Dickinson
- The Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, The University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Tracy M Bryan
- Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
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He Y, Su Y, Duan C, Wang S, He W, Zhang Y, An X, He M. Emerging role of aging in the progression of NAFLD to HCC. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 84:101833. [PMID: 36565959 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2022.101833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
With the aging of global population, the incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has surged in recent decades. NAFLD is a multifactorial disease that follows a progressive course, ranging from simple fatty liver, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is well established that aging induces pathological changes in liver and potentiates the occurrence and progression of NAFLD, HCC and other age-related liver diseases. Studies of senescent cells also indicate a pivotal engagement in the development of NAFLD via diverse mechanisms. Moreover, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), silence information regulator protein family (sirtuins), and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) are three vital and broadly studied targets involved in aging process and NAFLD. Nevertheless, the crucial role of these aging-associated factors in aging-related NAFLD remains underestimated. Here, we reviewed the current research on the roles of aging, cellular senescence and three aging-related factors in the evolution of NAFLD to HCC, aiming at inspiring promising therapeutic targets for aging-related NAFLD and its progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongyuan He
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Ministry of Education, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Cellular Homeostasis and Human Diseases, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yinghong Su
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Ministry of Education, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Cellular Homeostasis and Human Diseases, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chengcheng Duan
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Ministry of Education, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Cellular Homeostasis and Human Diseases, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Siyuan Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Ministry of Education, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Cellular Homeostasis and Human Diseases, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei He
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Ministry of Education, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Cellular Homeostasis and Human Diseases, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; School of Basic Medicine, Kunming Medical University, China
| | - Yingting Zhang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Ministry of Education, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Cellular Homeostasis and Human Diseases, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaofei An
- Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
| | - Ming He
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Ministry of Education, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Cellular Homeostasis and Human Diseases, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China.
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[The characterization analysis of pathogenic T cells in immune-mediated aplastic anemia mouse model]. ZHONGHUA XUE YE XUE ZA ZHI = ZHONGHUA XUEYEXUE ZAZHI 2022; 43:587-593. [PMID: 36709137 PMCID: PMC9395574 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0253-2727.2022.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Objective: This study aims, in addition to characterizing pathogenic T cells trafficking to bone marrow (BM) and other organs, to establish immune-mediated AA C.B10 mouse model by DsRed mouse (B6 background) lymph nodes (LN) cells infusion after a total body irradiation (TBI) . Methods: The C.B10 mice received a 5 Gy TBI and then were infused with DsRed mouse (B6 background) LN cells at 5×10(6)/mouse via a tail vein injection. The severity of bone marrow failure (BMF) was observed by mononuclear cell count in bone marrow and peripheral blood cell count. On days 3, 6, 9, and 12, mice were sacrificed and collected BM, spleens, LN, or thymus to analyze the dynamic change and activation status of donor T cells in these organs by a flow cytometry. At day 12, the donor-derived T cells from BM, spleens, and LN were sorted to collect the DsRed(+)CD3(+)CD4(+) T cells and DsRed(+)CD3(+)CD8(+) T cells for RNA isolation and gene expression analyses by PCR array. Results: Relative to control animals that received 5 Gy TBI without LN cell infusion, AA mice developed severe BMF with dramatic decrease in total BM cells, hemoglobin, white blood cells, and platelets in peripheral blood on days 9 and 12 after the LN cell infusion. The frequencies of DsRed(+) T cells trafficking to BM, LN, and spleens increased with time. Surprisingly, although the DsRed(+) T cells in BM increased dramatically at a level much higher than those in the spleens and LN on day 12, there were very few DsRed(+) T cells in BM on days three and six, which was significantly lower than those in spleens or LN. The frequency of DsRed(+) T cells in thymus was the lowest during the whole process. On day 12, the DsRed(+)CD3(+)CD4(+) T cells of BM, LN, and spleens from AA mice were (91.38±2.10) %, (39.78±6.98) %, and (67.87±12.77) %, respectively. On the contrary, the DsRed(+)CD3(+)CD8(+)T cells of BM, LN, and spleens were (98.21±1.49) %, (94.06±4.20) %, and (96.29±1.23) %, respectively. We assessed the donor T cell phenotypes using the CD44 and CD62L markers and found that almost all of the DsRed(+)CD4(+) or DsRed(+)CD8(+) T cells in BM were effector memory T cell phenotype from day 9 to day 12. Meanwhile, transcriptome analyses showed higher expression in CD38, IFN-γ, LAG3, CSF1, SPP1, and TNFSF13B in BM DsRed(+)CD4(+) and DsRed(+)CD8(+) T cells. However, there was a lower expression in FOXP3 and CTLA4 in BM DsRed(+)CD4(+) T cells than those in spleens and LN. Conclusions: The DsRed LN cells infusion to induce BMF in CB10 mice enabled to track the donor-derived pathogenic T cells. Besides previously published findings in this model, we demonstrated that donor CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells primarily homed to spleens and LN, expanded and differentiated, then infiltrated in BM with a terminal effector memory phenotype. The T cells infiltrated in BM showed more activation and less immunosuppression characteristics compared to those homing to spleens and LN during the BMF development.
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Functional interaction between compound heterozygous TERT mutations causes severe telomere biology disorder. Blood Adv 2022; 6:3779-3791. [PMID: 35477117 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2022007029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere biology disorders (TBDs) are a spectrum of multisystem inherited disorders characterized by bone marrow failure, resulting from mutations in genes encoding telomerase or other proteins involved in maintaining telomere length and integrity. Pathogenicity of variants in these genes can be hard to evaluate, since TBD mutations show highly variable penetrance and genetic anticipation due to inheritance of shorter telomeres with each generation. Thus, detailed functional analysis of newly identified variants is often essential. Here we describe a patient with compound heterozygous variants in the TERT gene, which encodes the catalytic subunit of telomerase, hTERT; this patient has the extremely severe Hoyeraal-Hreidarsson form of TBD, although his heterozygous parents are clinically unaffected. Molecular dynamic modeling and detailed biochemical analyses demonstrate that 1 allele (L557P) affects association of hTERT with its cognate RNA component hTR, while the other (K1050E) affects the binding of telomerase to its DNA substrate and enzyme processivity. Unexpectedly, the data demonstrate a functional interaction between the proteins encoded by the 2 alleles, with WT hTERT able to rescue the effect of K1050E on processivity, whereas L557P hTERT cannot. These data contribute to the mechanistic understanding of telomerase, indicating that RNA binding in 1 hTERT molecule affects the processivity of telomere addition by the other molecule. This work emphasizes the importance of functional characterization of TERT variants to reach a definitive molecular diagnosis for TBD patients, and in particular it illustrates the importance of analyzing the effects of compound heterozygous variants in combination to reveal interallelic effects.
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Reilly CR, Myllymäki M, Redd R, Padmanaban S, Karunakaran D, Tesmer V, Tsai FD, Gibson CJ, Rana HQ, Zhong L, Saber W, Spellman SR, Hu ZH, Orr EH, Chen MM, De Vivo I, DeAngelo DJ, Cutler C, Antin JH, Neuberg D, Garber JE, Nandakumar J, Agarwal S, Lindsley RC. The clinical and functional effects of TERT variants in myelodysplastic syndrome. Blood 2021; 138:898-911. [PMID: 34019641 PMCID: PMC8432045 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2021011075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Germline pathogenic TERT variants are associated with short telomeres and an increased risk of developing myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) among patients with a telomere biology disorder. We identified TERT rare variants in 41 of 1514 MDS patients (2.7%) without a clinical diagnosis of a telomere biology disorder who underwent allogeneic transplantation. Patients with a TERT rare variant had shorter telomere length (P < .001) and younger age at MDS diagnosis (52 vs 59 years, P = .03) than patients without a TERT rare variant. In multivariable models, TERT rare variants were associated with inferior overall survival (P = .034) driven by an increased incidence of nonrelapse mortality (NRM; P = .015). Death from a noninfectious pulmonary cause was more frequent among patients with a TERT rare variant. Most variants were missense substitutions and classified as variants of unknown significance. Therefore, we cloned all rare missense variants and quantified their impact on telomere elongation in a cell-based assay. We found that 90% of TERT rare variants had severe or intermediate impairment in their capacity to elongate telomeres. Using a homology model of human TERT bound to the shelterin protein TPP1, we inferred that TERT rare variants disrupt domain-specific functions, including catalysis, protein-RNA interactions, and recruitment to telomeres. Our results indicate that the contribution of TERT rare variants to MDS pathogenesis and NRM risk is underrecognized. Routine screening for TERT rare variants in MDS patients regardless of age or clinical suspicion may identify clinically inapparent telomere biology disorders and improve transplant outcomes through risk-adapted approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mikko Myllymäki
- Division of Hematological Malignancies, Department of Medical Oncology, and
| | - Robert Redd
- Department of Data Sciences, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston MA
| | - Shilpa Padmanaban
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Druha Karunakaran
- Division of Hematological Malignancies, Department of Medical Oncology, and
| | - Valerie Tesmer
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Frederick D Tsai
- Division of Hematological Malignancies, Department of Medical Oncology, and
| | | | - Huma Q Rana
- Division of Population Sciences, Center for Cancer Genetics and Prevention, and
| | - Liang Zhong
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston MA
| | - Wael Saber
- Center for International Blood andMarrow Transplant Research, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Stephen R Spellman
- Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, National Marrow Donor Program/Be The Match, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Zhen-Huan Hu
- Center for International Blood andMarrow Transplant Research, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Esther H Orr
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; and
| | - Maxine M Chen
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; and
| | - Immaculata De Vivo
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; and
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Daniel J DeAngelo
- Division of Hematological Malignancies, Department of Medical Oncology, and
| | - Corey Cutler
- Division of Hematological Malignancies, Department of Medical Oncology, and
| | - Joseph H Antin
- Division of Hematological Malignancies, Department of Medical Oncology, and
| | - Donna Neuberg
- Department of Data Sciences, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston MA
| | - Judy E Garber
- Division of Population Sciences, Center for Cancer Genetics and Prevention, and
| | - Jayakrishnan Nandakumar
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Suneet Agarwal
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston MA
| | - R Coleman Lindsley
- Division of Hematological Malignancies, Department of Medical Oncology, and
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Tang LJ, Rios RS, Zhang H, Byrne CD, Targher G, Zheng MH. Telomerase: a key player in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease? Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 15:811-819. [PMID: 33709875 DOI: 10.1080/17474124.2021.1903318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Telomerase is a basic nuclear protein reverse transcriptase, which plays a key role in maintaining telomere stability, genome integrity, long-term cell activity, and potential continued proliferation.Area covered: This narrative review discusses key research advances involving telomerase in the development and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The review evaluates 9a) whether the assessment of telomerase can be used as a noninvasive diagnostic tool; and (b) whether modification of telomerase function might be a useful potential therapeutic target for treatment of NAFLD. Furthermore, the relationship between telomerase and other chronic metabolic diseases is evaluated.Expert opinion: Several experimental and preclinical studies have suggested that telomerase plays an important role in the development of NAFLD. However, further mechanistic studies are needed to prove a causal relationship and to better elucidate whether the measurement of telomerase has utility as a diagnostic tool or whether pharmacological manipulation of telomerase has therapeutic potential in NAFLD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang-Jie Tang
- NAFLD Research Center, Department of Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Rafael S Rios
- NAFLD Research Center, Department of Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Huai Zhang
- NAFLD Research Center, Department of Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Christopher D Byrne
- Southampton National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK
| | - Giovanni Targher
- Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University and Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Ming-Hua Zheng
- NAFLD Research Center, Department of Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,Institute of Hepatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment for the Development of Chronic Liver Disease in Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, China
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Grill S, Nandakumar J. Molecular mechanisms of telomere biology disorders. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100064. [PMID: 33482595 PMCID: PMC7948428 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev120.014017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic mutations that affect telomerase function or telomere maintenance result in a variety of diseases collectively called telomeropathies. This wide spectrum of disorders, which include dyskeratosis congenita, pulmonary fibrosis, and aplastic anemia, is characterized by severely short telomeres, often resulting in hematopoietic stem cell failure in the most severe cases. Recent work has focused on understanding the molecular basis of these diseases. Mutations in the catalytic TERT and TR subunits of telomerase compromise activity, while others, such as those found in the telomeric protein TPP1, reduce the recruitment of telomerase to the telomere. Mutant telomerase-associated proteins TCAB1 and dyskerin and the telomerase RNA maturation component poly(A)-specific ribonuclease affect the maturation and stability of telomerase. In contrast, disease-associated mutations in either CTC1 or RTEL1 are more broadly associated with telomere replication defects. Yet even with the recent surge in studies decoding the mechanisms underlying these diseases, a significant proportion of dyskeratosis congenita mutations remain uncharacterized or poorly understood. Here we review the current understanding of the molecular basis of telomeropathies and highlight experimental data that illustrate how genetic mutations drive telomere shortening and dysfunction in these patients. This review connects insights from both clinical and molecular studies to create a comprehensive view of the underlying mechanisms that drive these diseases. Through this, we emphasize recent advances in therapeutics and pinpoint disease-associated variants that remain poorly defined in their mechanism of action. Finally, we suggest future avenues of research that will deepen our understanding of telomere biology and telomere-related disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherilyn Grill
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jayakrishnan Nandakumar
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
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A structurally conserved human and Tetrahymena telomerase catalytic core. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:31078-31087. [PMID: 33229538 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2011684117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein complex that counteracts the shortening of chromosome ends due to incomplete replication. Telomerase contains a catalytic core of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and telomerase RNA (TER). However, what defines TERT and separates it from other reverse transcriptases remains a subject of debate. A recent cryoelectron microscopy map of Tetrahymena telomerase revealed the structure of a previously uncharacterized TERT domain (TRAP) with unanticipated interactions with the telomerase essential N-terminal (TEN) domain and roles in telomerase activity. Both TEN and TRAP are absent in the putative Tribolium TERT that has been used as a model for telomerase for over a decade. To investigate the conservation of TRAP and TEN across species, we performed multiple sequence alignments and statistical coupling analysis on all identified TERTs and find that TEN and TRAP have coevolved as telomerase-specific domains. Integrating the data from bioinformatic analysis and the structure of Tetrahymena telomerase, we built a pseudoatomic model of human telomerase catalytic core that accounts for almost all of the cryoelectron microscopy density in a published map, including TRAP in previously unassigned density as well as telomerase RNA domains essential for activity. This more complete model of the human telomerase catalytic core illustrates how domains of TER and TERT, including the TEN-TRAP complex, can interact in a conserved manner to regulate telomere synthesis.
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Functional validation of TERT and TERC variants of uncertain significance in patients with short telomere syndromes. Blood Cancer J 2020; 10:120. [PMID: 33203829 PMCID: PMC7673118 DOI: 10.1038/s41408-020-00386-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
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Schrumpfová PP, Fajkus J. Composition and Function of Telomerase-A Polymerase Associated with the Origin of Eukaryotes. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10101425. [PMID: 33050064 PMCID: PMC7658794 DOI: 10.3390/biom10101425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The canonical DNA polymerases involved in the replication of the genome are unable to fully replicate the physical ends of linear chromosomes, called telomeres. Chromosomal termini thus become shortened in each cell cycle. The maintenance of telomeres requires telomerase—a specific RNA-dependent DNA polymerase enzyme complex that carries its own RNA template and adds telomeric repeats to the ends of chromosomes using a reverse transcription mechanism. Both core subunits of telomerase—its catalytic telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) subunit and telomerase RNA (TR) component—were identified in quick succession in Tetrahymena more than 30 years ago. Since then, both telomerase subunits have been described in various organisms including yeasts, mammals, birds, reptiles and fish. Despite the fact that telomerase activity in plants was described 25 years ago and the TERT subunit four years later, a genuine plant TR has only recently been identified by our group. In this review, we focus on the structure, composition and function of telomerases. In addition, we discuss the origin and phylogenetic divergence of this unique RNA-dependent DNA polymerase as a witness of early eukaryotic evolution. Specifically, we discuss the latest information regarding the recently discovered TR component in plants, its conservation and its structural features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Procházková Schrumpfová
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics and Proteomics, National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, CZ-61137 Brno, Czech Republic;
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, CZ-62500 Brno, Czech Republic
- Correspondence:
| | - Jiří Fajkus
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics and Proteomics, National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, CZ-61137 Brno, Czech Republic;
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, CZ-62500 Brno, Czech Republic
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Královopolská 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
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Aramburu T, Plucinsky S, Skordalakes E. POT1-TPP1 telomere length regulation and disease. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:1939-1946. [PMID: 32774788 PMCID: PMC7385035 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.06.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are DNA repeats at the ends of linear chromosomes and are replicated by telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein reverse transcriptase. Telomere length regulation and chromosome end capping are essential for genome stability and are mediated primarily by the shelterin and CST complexes. POT1-TPP1, a subunit of shelterin, binds the telomeric overhang, suppresses ATR-dependent DNA damage response, and recruits telomerase to telomeres for DNA replication. POT1 localization to telomeres and chromosome end protection requires its interaction with TPP1. Therefore, the POT1-TPP1 complex is critical to telomere maintenance and full telomerase processivity. The aim of this mini-review is to summarize recent POT1-TPP1 structural studies and discuss how the complex contributes to telomere length regulation. In addition, we review how disruption of POT1-TPP1 function leads to human disease.
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Key Words
- ATM, Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated protein
- ATR, Ataxia Telangiectasia and Rad3-related Protein
- CST, CTC1, Stn1 and Ten1
- CTC1, Conserved Telomere Capping Protein 1
- POT1
- POT1, Protection of telomere 1
- RAP1, Repressor/Activator Protein 1
- RPA, Replication Protein A
- SMCHD1, Structural Maintenance Of Chromosomes Flexible Hinge Domain Containing 1
- Shelterin
- Stn1, Suppressor of Cdc Thirteen
- TERC, Telomerase RNA
- TERT, Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase
- TIN2, TRF1- and TRF2-Interacting Nuclear Protein 2
- TPP1
- TPP1 also known as ACD, Adrenocortical Dysplasia Protein Homolog
- TRF1, Telomere Repeat binding Factor 1
- TRF2, Telomere Repeat binding Factor 2
- TSPYL5, Testis-specific Y-encoded-like protein 5
- Telomerase
- Telomeres
- Ten1, Telomere Length Regulation Protein
- USP7, ubiquitin-specific-processing protease 7
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13
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Smith EM, Pendlebury DF, Nandakumar J. Structural biology of telomeres and telomerase. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:61-79. [PMID: 31728577 PMCID: PMC6986361 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03369-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres are protein-DNA complexes that protect chromosome ends from illicit ligation and resection. Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein enzyme that synthesizes telomeric DNA to counter telomere shortening. Human telomeres are composed of complexes between telomeric DNA and a six-protein complex known as shelterin. The shelterin proteins TRF1 and TRF2 provide the binding affinity and specificity for double-stranded telomeric DNA, while the POT1-TPP1 shelterin subcomplex coats the single-stranded telomeric G-rich overhang that is characteristic of all our chromosome ends. By capping chromosome ends, shelterin protects telomeric DNA from unwanted degradation and end-to-end fusion events. Structures of the human shelterin proteins reveal a network of constitutive and context-specific interactions. The shelterin protein-DNA structures reveal the basis for both the high affinity and DNA sequence specificity of these interactions, and explain how shelterin efficiently protects chromosome ends from genome instability. Several protein-protein interactions, many provided by the shelterin component TIN2, are critical for upholding the end-protection function of shelterin. A survey of these protein-protein interfaces within shelterin reveals a series of "domain-peptide" interactions that allow for efficient binding and adaptability towards new functions. While the modular nature of shelterin has facilitated its part-by-part structural characterization, the interdependence of subunits within telomerase has made its structural solution more challenging. However, the exploitation of several homologs in combination with recent advancements in cryo-EM capabilities has led to an exponential increase in our knowledge of the structural biology underlying telomerase function. Telomerase homologs from a wide range of eukaryotes show a typical retroviral reverse transcriptase-like protein core reinforced with elements that deliver telomerase-specific functions including recruitment to telomeres and high telomere-repeat addition processivity. In addition to providing the template for reverse transcription, the RNA component of telomerase provides a scaffold for the catalytic and accessory protein subunits, defines the limits of the telomeric repeat sequence, and plays a critical role in RNP assembly, stability, and trafficking. While a high-resolution definition of the human telomerase structure is only beginning to emerge, the quick pace of technical progress forecasts imminent breakthroughs in this area. Here, we review the structural biology surrounding telomeres and telomerase to provide a molecular description of mammalian chromosome end protection and end replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric M Smith
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Program in Chemical Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Devon F Pendlebury
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Program in Chemical Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Jayakrishnan Nandakumar
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Program in Chemical Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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14
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Combining conservation and species-specific differences to determine how human telomerase binds telomeres. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:26505-26515. [PMID: 31822618 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1911912116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomerase catalyzes telomeric DNA synthesis at chromosome ends to allow for continued cell division. The telomeric protein TPP1 is essential for enhancing the processivity of telomerase and recruiting the enzyme to telomeres. The telomerase interaction surface on human TPP1 has been mapped to 2 regions of the N-terminal oligosaccharide/oligonucleotide-binding (OB) domain, namely the TPP1 glutamate (E) and leucine (L)-rich (TEL) patch and the N terminus of TPP1-oligosaccharide/oligonucleotide-binding (NOB) region. To map the telomerase side of the interface, we exploited the predicted structural similarities for human and Tetrahymena thermophila telomerase as well as the species specificity of human and mouse telomerase for their cognate TPP1 partners. We show that swapping in the telomerase essential N-terminal (TEN) and insertions in fingers domain (IFD)-TRAP regions of the human telomerase catalytic protein subunit TERT into the mouse TERT backbone is sufficient to bias the species specificity toward human TPP1. Employing a structural homology-based mutagenesis screen focused on surface residues of the TEN and IFD regions, we identified TERT residues that are critical for contacting TPP1 but dispensable for other aspects of telomerase structure or function. We present a functionally validated structural model for how human telomerase engages TPP1 at telomeres, setting the stage for a high-resolution structure of this interface.
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15
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Wang Y, Sušac L, Feigon J. Structural Biology of Telomerase. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2019; 11:cshperspect.a032383. [PMID: 31451513 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a032383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Telomerase is a DNA polymerase that extends the 3' ends of chromosomes by processively synthesizing multiple telomeric repeats. It is a unique ribonucleoprotein (RNP) containing a specialized telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and telomerase RNA (TER) with its own template and other elements required with TERT for activity (catalytic core), as well as species-specific TER-binding proteins important for biogenesis and assembly (core RNP); other proteins bind telomerase transiently or constitutively to allow association of telomerase and other proteins with telomere ends for regulation of DNA synthesis. Here we describe how nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography of TER and protein domains helped define the structure and function of the core RNP, laying the groundwork for interpreting negative-stain and cryo electron microscopy (cryo-EM) density maps of Tetrahymena thermophila and human telomerase holoenzymes. As the resolution has improved from ∼30 Å to ∼5 Å, these studies have provided increasingly detailed information on telomerase architecture and mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqiang Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California 90095-1569
| | - Lukas Sušac
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California 90095-1569
| | - Juli Feigon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California 90095-1569
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16
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Petrova OA, Mantsyzov AB, Rodina EV, Efimov SV, Hackenberg C, Hakanpää J, Klochkov VV, Lebedev AA, Chugunova AA, Malyavko AN, Zatsepin TS, Mishin AV, Zvereva MI, Lamzin VS, Dontsova OA, Polshakov VI. Structure and function of the N-terminal domain of the yeast telomerase reverse transcriptase. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:1525-1540. [PMID: 29294091 PMCID: PMC5814841 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx1275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The elongation of single-stranded DNA repeats at the 3′-ends of chromosomes by telomerase is a key process in maintaining genome integrity in eukaryotes. Abnormal activation of telomerase leads to uncontrolled cell division, whereas its down-regulation is attributed to ageing and several pathologies related to early cell death. Telomerase function is based on the dynamic interactions of its catalytic subunit (TERT) with nucleic acids—telomerase RNA, telomeric DNA and the DNA/RNA heteroduplex. Here, we present the crystallographic and NMR structures of the N-terminal (TEN) domain of TERT from the thermotolerant yeast Hansenula polymorpha and demonstrate the structural conservation of the core motif in evolutionarily divergent organisms. We identify the TEN residues that are involved in interactions with the telomerase RNA and in the recognition of the ‘fork’ at the distal end of the DNA product/RNA template heteroduplex. We propose that the TEN domain assists telomerase biological function and is involved in restricting the size of the heteroduplex during telomere repeat synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga A Petrova
- A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Alexey B Mantsyzov
- Centre for Magnetic Tomography and Spectroscopy, Faculty of Fundamental Medicine, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Elena V Rodina
- Department of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Sergey V Efimov
- NMR Laboratory, Institute of Physics, Kazan Federal University, 18 Kremlevskaya, Kazan 420008, Russia
| | - Claudia Hackenberg
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Johanna Hakanpää
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Vladimir V Klochkov
- NMR Laboratory, Institute of Physics, Kazan Federal University, 18 Kremlevskaya, Kazan 420008, Russia
| | - Andrej A Lebedev
- Research Complex at Harwell, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, UK
| | - Anastasia A Chugunova
- Department of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia.,Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander N Malyavko
- Department of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia.,Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Timofei S Zatsepin
- Department of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia.,Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey V Mishin
- Laboratory for Structural Biology of GPCRs, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Maria I Zvereva
- Department of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Victor S Lamzin
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Olga A Dontsova
- A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia.,Department of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia.,Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir I Polshakov
- Centre for Magnetic Tomography and Spectroscopy, Faculty of Fundamental Medicine, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
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17
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Jiang J, Wang Y, Sušac L, Chan H, Basu R, Zhou ZH, Feigon J. Structure of Telomerase with Telomeric DNA. Cell 2018; 173:1179-1190.e13. [PMID: 29775593 PMCID: PMC5995583 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.04.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 04/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Telomerase is an RNA-protein complex (RNP) that extends telomeric DNA at the 3' ends of chromosomes using its telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and integral template-containing telomerase RNA (TER). Its activity is a critical determinant of human health, affecting aging, cancer, and stem cell renewal. Lack of atomic models of telomerase, particularly one with DNA bound, has limited our mechanistic understanding of telomeric DNA repeat synthesis. We report the 4.8 Å resolution cryoelectron microscopy structure of active Tetrahymena telomerase bound to telomeric DNA. The catalytic core is an intricately interlocked structure of TERT and TER, including a previously structurally uncharacterized TERT domain that interacts with the TEN domain to physically enclose TER and regulate activity. This complete structure of a telomerase catalytic core and its interactions with telomeric DNA from the template to telomere-interacting p50-TEB complex provides unanticipated insights into telomerase assembly and catalytic cycle and a new paradigm for a reverse transcriptase RNP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiansen Jiang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Yaqiang Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Lukas Sušac
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Henry Chan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Ritwika Basu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Z Hong Zhou
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - Juli Feigon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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18
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Current Perspectives of Telomerase Structure and Function in Eukaryotes with Emerging Views on Telomerase in Human Parasites. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19020333. [PMID: 29364142 PMCID: PMC5855555 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19020333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Revised: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Replicative capacity of a cell is strongly correlated with telomere length regulation. Aberrant lengthening or reduction in the length of telomeres can lead to health anomalies, such as cancer or premature aging. Telomerase is a master regulator for maintaining replicative potential in most eukaryotic cells. It does so by controlling telomere length at chromosome ends. Akin to cancer cells, most single-cell eukaryotic pathogens are highly proliferative and require persistent telomerase activity to maintain constant length of telomere and propagation within their host. Although telomerase is key to unlimited cellular proliferation in both cases, not much was known about the role of telomerase in human parasites (malaria, Trypanosoma, etc.) until recently. Since telomerase regulation is mediated via its own structural components, interactions with catalytic reverse transcriptase and several factors that can recruit and assemble telomerase to telomeres in a cell cycle-dependent manner, we compare and discuss here recent findings in telomerase biology in cancer, aging and parasitic diseases to give a broader perspective of telomerase function in human diseases.
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19
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Wang Y, Feigon J. Structural biology of telomerase and its interaction at telomeres. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2017; 47:77-87. [PMID: 28732250 PMCID: PMC5564310 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2017.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 06/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Telomerase is an RNP that synthesizes the 3' ends of linear chromosomes and is an important regulator of telomere length. It contains a single long non-coding telomerase RNA (TER), telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), and other proteins that vary among organisms. Recent progress in structural biology of telomerase includes reports of the first cryo-electron microscopy structure of telomerase, from Tetrahymena, new crystal structures of TERT domains, telomerase RNA structures and models, and identification in Tetrahymena telomerase holoenzyme of human homologues of telomere-associated proteins that have provided a more unified view of telomerase interaction at telomeres as well as insights into the role of telomerase RNA in activity and assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqiang Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1569, USA
| | - Juli Feigon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1569, USA.
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