Oligonucleotides complementary to the Oxytricha nova telomerase RNA delineate the template domain and uncover a novel mode of primer utilization

P. berghei telomerase subunit TERT is essential for parasite survival

Telomeres define the ends of chromosomes protecting eukaryotic cells from chromosome instability and eventual cell death. The complex regulation of telomeres involves various proteins including telomerase, which is a specialized ribonucleoprotein responsible for telomere maintenance. Telomeres of chromosomes of malaria parasites are kept at a constant length during blood stage proliferation. The 7-bp telomere repeat sequence is universal across different Plasmodium species (GGGTTT/CA), though the average telomere length varies. The catalytic subunit of telomerase, telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), is present in all sequenced Plasmodium species and is approximately three times larger than other eukaryotic TERTs. The Plasmodium RNA component of TERT has recently been identified in silico. A strategy to delete the gene encoding TERT via double cross-over (DXO) homologous recombination was undertaken to study the telomerase function in P. berghei. Expression of both TERT and the RNA component (TR) in P. berghei blood stages was analysed by Western blotting and Northern analysis. Average telomere length was measured in several Plasmodium species using Telomere Restriction Fragment (TRF) analysis. TERT and TR were detected in blood stages and an average telomere length of ∼950 bp established. Deletion of the tert gene was performed using standard transfection methodologies and we show the presence of tert⁻ mutants in the transfected parasite populations. Cloning of tert- mutants has been attempted multiple times without success. Thorough analysis of the transfected parasite populations and the parasite obtained from extensive parasite cloning from these populations provide evidence for a so called delayed death phenotype as observed in different organisms lacking TERT. The findings indicate that TERT is essential for P. berghei cell survival. The study extends our current knowledge on telomere biology in malaria parasites and validates further investigations to identify telomerase inhibitors to induce parasite cell death.

Telomere and telomerase biology

Telomeres are the physical ends of eukaryotic linear chromosomes. Telomeres form special structures that cap chromosome ends to prevent degradation by nucleolytic attack and to distinguish chromosome termini from DNA double-strand breaks. With few exceptions, telomeres are composed primarily of repetitive DNA associated with proteins that interact specifically with double- or single-stranded telomeric DNA or with each other, forming highly ordered and dynamic complexes involved in telomere maintenance and length regulation. In proliferative cells and unicellular organisms, telomeric DNA is replicated by the actions of telomerase, a specialized reverse transcriptase. In the absence of telomerase, some cells employ a recombination-based DNA replication pathway known as alternative lengthening of telomeres. However, mammalian somatic cells that naturally lack telomerase activity show telomere shortening with increasing age leading to cell cycle arrest and senescence. In another way, mutations or deletions of telomerase components can lead to inherited genetic disorders, and the depletion of telomeric proteins can elicit the action of distinct kinases-dependent DNA damage response, culminating in chromosomal abnormalities that are incompatible with life. In addition to the intricate network formed by the interrelationships among telomeric proteins, long noncoding RNAs that arise from subtelomeric regions, named telomeric repeat-containing RNA, are also implicated in telomerase regulation and telomere maintenance. The goal for the next years is to increase our knowledge about the mechanisms that regulate telomere homeostasis and the means by which their absence or defect can elicit telomere dysfunction, which generally results in gross genomic instability and genetic diseases.

The structure and function of telomerase reverse transcriptase

The structure and integrity of telomeres are essential for genome stability. Telomere dysregulation can lead to cell death, cell senescence, or abnormal cell proliferation. The maintenance of telomere repeats in most eukaryotic organisms requires telomerase, which consists of a reverse transcriptase (RT) and an RNA template that dictates the synthesis of the G-rich strand of telomere terminal repeats. Structurally, telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) contains unique and variable N- and C-terminal extensions that flank a central RT-like domain. The enzymology of telomerase includes features that are both similar to and distinct from those characteristic of other RTs. Two distinguishing features of TERT are its stable association with the telomerase RNA and its ability to repetitively reverse transcribe the template segment of RNA. Here we discuss TERT structure and function; its regulation by RNA-DNA, TERT-DNA, TERT-RNA, TERT-TERT interactions, and TERT-associated proteins; and the relationship between telomerase enzymology and telomere maintenance.

Asparagales telomerases which synthesize the human type of telomeres

The order of monocotyledonous plants Asparagales is attractive for studies of telomere evolution as it includes three phylogenetically distinct groups with telomeres composed of TTTAGGG (Arabidopsis-type), TTAGGG (human-type) and unknown alternative sequences, respectively. To analyze the molecular causes of these switches in telomere sequence (synthesis), genes coding for the catalytic telomerase subunit (TERT) of representative species in the first two groups have been cloned. Multiple alignments of the sequences, together with other TERT sequences in databases, suggested candidate amino acid substitutions grouped in the Asparagales TERT synthesizing the human-type repeat that could have contributed to the changed telomere sequence. Among these, mutations in the C motif are of special interest due to its functional importance in TERT. Furthermore, two different modes of initial elongation of the substrate primer were observed in Asparagales telomerases producing human-like repeats, which could be attributed to interactions between the telomerase RNA subunit (TR) and the substrate.

An anchor site-type defect in human telomerase that disrupts telomere length maintenance and cellular immortalization

Telomerase-mediated telomeric DNA synthesis is important for eukaryotic cell immortality. Telomerase adds tracts of short telomeric repeats to DNA substrates using a unique repeat addition form of processivity. It has been proposed that repeat addition processivity is partly regulated by a telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT)-dependent anchor site; however, anchor site-mediating residues have not been identified in any TERT. We report the characterization of an N-terminal human TERT (hTERT) RNA interaction domain 1 (RID1) mutation that caused telomerase activity defects consistent with disruption of a template-proximal anchor site, including reduced processivity on short telomeric primers and reduced activity on substrates with nontelomeric 5' sequences, but not on primers with nontelomeric G-rich 5' sequences. This mutation was located within a subregion of RID1 previously implicated in biological telomerase functions unrelated to catalytic activity (N-DAT domain). Other N-DAT and C-terminal DAT (C-DAT) mutants and a C-terminally tagged hTERT-HA variant were defective in elongating short telomeric primers, and catalytic phenotypes of DAT variants were partially or completely rescued by increasing concentrations of DNA primers. These observations imply that RID1 and the hTERT C terminus contribute to telomerase's affinity for its substrate, and that RID1 may form part of the human telomerase anchor site.

A unique pause pattern during telomere addition by the error-prone telomerase from the ciliate Paramecium tetraurelia

Telomeric DNA - the short, tandemly repeated sequences at the ends of chromosomes - is synthesized by telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein enzyme that copies a specific template sequence within its integral RNA moiety. The error-prone telomerase from the ciliate Paramecium tetraurelia stereotypically misincorporates TTP at telomerase RNA templating nucleotide C52, accounting for the 30% TTTGGG repeats randomly distributed in wild-type telomeres. Paramecium tetraurelia telomerase has been isolated from macronuclear extracts and characterized with respect to the extension of telomeric primers in vitro. Unlike telomerase activities from other species, the predominant pause during telomeric repeat synthesis by P. tetraurelia telomerase does not occur at the 5' end of the templating domain (templating nucleotide C49). Instead, the pause by P. tetraurelia telomerase is at templating nucleotide C53, immediately prior to incorporation of dGTP (or TTP) at C52. The configuration of the catalytic site at this template position during telomere synthesis is most likely responsible for the high incidence of misincorporation of TTP at C52. The gene for the P. tetraurelia telomerase catalytic subunit, telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), has been cloned and sequenced. A comparative analysis of the P. tetraurelia TERT with homologs from other species, including that from another Paramecium species that does not make a high percentage of misincorporation errors, has been initiated. This study may delineate those TERT structural elements that contribute to telomerase fidelity.

Ciliate telomerase biochemistry

Telomerase is a cellular reverse transcriptase specialized for use of a template carried within the RNA component of the enzyme ribonucleoprotein complex. Substrates for telomerase are single-stranded oligonucleotides in vitro and chromosome ends in vivo. In vitro, a bound substrate is extended by an initial round of DNA synthesis on the internal RNA template and in some cases by multiple rounds of template copying before product dissociation. In vivo, de novo synthesis of one strand of a telomeric repeat sequence by telomerase balances the sequence loss resulting from incomplete replication of linear chromosome ends by RNA primer-requiring DNA polymerases. Telomerase biochemistry has been studied extensively by using partially purified cell extracts. Telomerase components are being identified and beginning to be produced in recombinant form. This review focuses on the enzyme mechanism of telomerases from ciliate species, thus far the most intensively studied systems.

Inhibition of human telomerase by PNA-cationic peptide conjugates

The inhibition of human telomerase has been explored using peptide conjugated derivatives of a PNA pentamer directed at the RNA template of telomerase. It is demonstrated that the presence of cationic peptides at the N-terminus of the PNA results in enhanced inhibition of telomerase activity. Furthermore, inhibition depended on the specificity of PNA recognition.

Telomerase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains several protein subunits and may have different activities depending on the protein content

Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein responsible for maintaining telomeres during the cell cycle [1,2]. Here we describe a two-step purification procedure for the Saccharomyces cerevisiae telomerase complex. We have found that the properties (processivity, nuclease activity) of telomerase depend on the isolation procedure. Using a cross-linking approach, we have revealed several proteins that could be components of the telomerase complex. Furthermore, spectra of cross-linked proteins differ in processive and non-processive telomerase complexes.

Preclinical and clinical strategies for development of telomerase and telomere inhibitors

BACKGROUND

Telomerase is an important enzyme whose activity has been convincingly demonstrated in humans recently. It is required for maintenance of ends of chromosomes (telomeres) during cell division. Since its presence has been selectively demonstrated in dividing cells including tumor cells, it has generated considerable excitement as a potential anti-cancer strategy.

DESIGN

In this article, we review the current relevant biology of the enzyme, the challenges encountered in the preclinical phase of target development and the current efforts that focus on telomeres and telomerase as therapeutic targets. We also speculate on the potential toxicities and mechanisms of resistance that may be encountered during use of such therapies.

dGTP-dependent processivity and possible template switching of euplotes telomerase

We have measured the processivity of telomeric DNA extension by Euplotes aediculatus telomerase at various concentrations of the nucleotide substrates dGTP and dTTP. The maximum processivity (approximately 3 repeats) was observed at approximately 100 microM of each dNTP. Processivity decreased as the dNTP concentrations were reduced and, surprisingly, as the concentration of dGTP was increased. Also, the characteristic banding pattern generated by telomerase extension of DNA primers shifted in response to changes in dGTP concentration. One pattern with 8 nt periodicity was predominant at dGTP concentrations </=16 microM, while at >/= 250 microM an 8 nt repeat pattern out-of-phase with the first was observed; at intermediate concentrations the two patterns coexisted. We propose that two different segments of the RNA subunit can serve as the template for repeat synthesis; nt 42-49 at low dGTP concentrations and nt 36-43 at high dGTP concentrations. An alternative model for the low dGTP pattern involves an internal pause site but no pause at the end of the template and is, therefore, considered less likely. Because the effects of dGTP on processivity and banding pattern appear to be distinct from nucleotide binding in the polymerase active site, we propose a second dGTP binding site involved in template selection and processivity.

The telomere lengthening mechanism in telomerase-negative immortal human cells does not involve the telomerase RNA subunit

According to the telomere hypothesis of senescence, the progressive shortening of telomeres that occurs upon division of normal somatic cells eventually leads to cellular senescence. The immortalisation of human cells is associated with the acquisition of a telomere maintenance mechanism which is usually dependent upon expression of the enzyme telomerase. About one third of in vitro immortalised human cell lines, however, have no detectable telomerase but contain telomeres that are abnormally long. The nature of the alternative telomere maintenance mechanism (referred to as ALT, for Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres) that must exist in these telomerase-negative cells has not been elucidated. It has previously been shown that abnormal lengthening of yeast telomeres may occur due to mutations in the yeast telomerase RNA gene. That this is not the mechanism of the abnormally long telomeres in ALT cell lines was demonstrated by the finding that seven of seven ALT lines have wild-type human telomerase RNA (hTR) sequence, including a novel polymorphism that is present in 30% of normal individuals. We found that two ALT cell lines have no detectable expression of the hTR gene. This shows that the ALT mechanism in these cell lines is not dependent on hTR. Expression of exogenous hTR via infection of these cells with a recombinant hTR-adenovirus vector did not result in telomerase activity, indicating that their lack of telomerase activity is not due to absence of hTR expression. We conclude that the ALT mechanism is not dependent on the expression of hTR, and does not involve mutations in the hTR sequence.

Developmentally regulated initiation of DNA synthesis by telomerase: evidence for factor-assisted de novo telomere formation

Telomerase serves a dual role at telomeres, maintaining tracts of telomere repeats and forming telomeres de novo on broken chromosomes in a process called chromosome healing. In ciliates, both mechanisms are readily observed. Vegetatively growing cells maintain pre-existing telomeres, while cells undergoing macronuclear development fragment their chromosomes and form telomeres de novo. Here we provide the first evidence for developmentally regulated initiation of DNA synthesis by telomerase. In vitro assays were conducted with telomerase from vegetative and developing Euplotes macronuclei using chimeric primers that contained non-telomeric 3' ends and an upstream stretch of telomeric DNA. In developing macronuclei, chimeric primers had two fates: nucleotides were either polymerized directly onto the 3' terminus or residues were removed from the 3' end by endonucleolytic cleavage before polymerization began. In contrast, telomerase from vegetative macronuclei used only the cleavage pathway. Telomere repeat addition onto non-telomeric 3' ends was lost when developing macronuclei were lysed and the contents purified on glycerol gradients. However, when fractions from the glycerol gradient were added back to partially purified telomerase, telomere synthesis was restored. The data indicate that a dissociable chromosome healing factor (CHF) collaborates with telomerase to initiate developmentally programmed de novo telomere formation.

The implications of telomerase biochemistry for human disease

The replication of linear chromosome termini (telomeres) cannot be completely replicated by conventional DNA polymerases. Telomerase is a special DNA polymerase used by most eukaryotes to solve the telomere and replication problem. Telomerase is necessary for indefinite cell division in most immortal cells, but apparently unnecessary for the normal function of most somatic tissues. Telomerase may play a critical role in some genetic diseases, in regulating the lifespan of normal cells, and in tumorigenesis. This article reviews the structure and reaction mechanism of mammalian telomerase and how it may be exploited to control some human diseases.

The roles of telomeres and telomerase in cell life span

Telomeres cap and protect the ends of chromosomes from degradation and illegitimate recombination. The termini of a linear template cannot, however, be completely replicated by conventional DNA-dependent DNA polymerases, and thus in the absence of a mechanisms to counter this effect, telomeres of eukaryotic cells shorten every round of DNA replication. In humans and possibly other higher eukaryotes, telomere shortening may have been adopted to limit the life span of somatic cells. Human somatic cells have a finite proliferative capacity and enter a viable growth arrested state called senescence. Life span appears to be governed by cell division, not time. The regular loss of telomeric DNA could therefore serve as a mitotic clock in the senescence programme, counting cell divisions. In most eukaryotic organisms, however, telomere shortening can be countered by the de novo addition of telomeric repeats by the enzyme telomerase. Cells which are "immortal' such as the human germ line or tumour cell lines, established mouse cells, yeast and ciliates, all maintain a stable telomere length through the action of telomerase. Abolition of telomerase activity in such cells nevertheless results in telomere shortening, a process that eventually destabilizes the ends of chromosomes, leading to genomic instability and cell growth arrest or death. Therefore, loss of terminal DNA sequences may limit cell life span by two mechanisms: by acting as a mitotic clock and by denuding chromosomes of protective telomeric DNA necessary for cell viability.

Structure and function of telomerase

The study of eukaryotic telomeres at the molecular level began with the discovery of short, tandem repeats at Tetrahymena chromosome ends. In the following two decades, major insights about telomere structure and function have come from investigations of telomerase, the DNA polymerase that synthesizes these repeats. In the past year, three areas of telomerase research have been particularly intense: assays of telomerase activity, isolation of telomerase components, and studies of the regulation of telomerase and telomere length in vivo.

Chromosome healing: spontaneous and programmed de novo telomere formation by telomerase

Telomeres are protective caps for chromosome ends that are essential for genome stability. Broken chromosomes missing a telomere will not be maintained unless the chromosome is 'healed' with the formation of a new telomere. Chromosome healing can be a programmed event following developmentally regulated chromosome fragmentation, or it may occur spontaneously when a chromosome is accidentally broken. In this article we discuss the consequences of telomere loss and the possible mechanisms that the enzyme telomerase employs to form telomeres de novo on broken chromosome ends.

ATP-dependent processivity of a telomerase activity from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Extracts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were shown to support the elongation of oligodeoxynucleotides with telomere-like sequences. The primer sequence specificity of this elongation activity, its incorporation of dG and dT but not dA or dC from the corresponding triphosphates, and its sensitivity to RNase A and RNase H are all consistent with it being a telomerase. In contrast to the reported properties of other telomerases, the presence of ATP enhances the efficiency of initiation of the yeast enzyme and improves its processivity. Hydrolysis of ATP appears to be unnecessary for the observed effects, as the beta,gamma-imido or the gamma-thio derivative of ATP is nearly as effective.

An in vitro assay for Saccharomyces telomerase requires EST1

Telomerase activity was demonstrated in cell-free extracts from S. cerevisiae through the use of a PCR-based assay. As expected, this activity was eliminated by RNase or phenol treatment of the extract and was dependent on dGTP and dTTP. Telomerase was not detected in extracts prepared from cells grown for approximately 30 or more cell divisions in the absence of the EST1 product, Est1p. TLC1 RNA, which determines the sequence of telomeric DNA in vivo, was present in normal amounts in est1 delta cells. Moreover, TLC1 RNA specifically precipitated with epitope-tagged Est1p. These data indicate that Est1p is either a subunit of yeast telomerase or an accessory protein associated with telomerase that is essential in vitro for its activity.

Purification of Tetrahymena telomerase and cloning of genes encoding the two protein components of the enzyme

Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein DNA polymerase that catalyzes the de novo synthesis of telomeric simple sequence repeats. We describe the purification of telomerase and the cloning of cDNAs encoding two protein subunits from the ciliate Tetrahymena. Two proteins of 80 and 95 kDa copurified and coimmunoprecipitated with telomerase activity and the previously identified Tetrahymena telomerase RNA. The p95 subunit specifically cross-linked to a radiolabeled telomeric DNA primer, while the p80 subunit specifically bound to radiolabeled telomerase RNA. At the primary sequence level, the two telomerase proteins share only limited homologies with other polymerases and polymerase accessory factors.