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Baumann lab identifies elusive telomere RNA subunit in single cell model
December 28, 2007The Stowers Institute's Baumann Lab has identified the long-sought telomerase RNA gene in a single-cell research model. Their findings have been posted to the Web site of the journal Nature Structural & Molecular Biology and will appear in a future print edition.
Chromosomes shorten with every cell division. In stem cells and in cancer cells, this shortening is compensated by telomerase, an enzyme that adds short repeat sequences to the ends of chromosomes to replenish lost DNA. As telomerase is required for the continued growth of most cancer cells, the enzyme is considered a promising target for new anti-cancer drugs. A correlation between telomere length and a variety of diseases has further intensified interest in understanding telomerase and its regulation.
The RNA subunit of telomerase is of particular interest as it represents one of the two core components of telomerase and provides the template for the short repeats that are added to the ends of chromosomes. The Baumann Lab is working to understand how telomerase is assembled, how it is recruited to chromosome ends, and how its activity is regulated. These efforts may shed light on the sometimes surprising correlations between telomere shortening and stress, smoking, obesity, and a variety of diseases including cancer and coronary heart disease.
Telomerase RNA has been studied in a variety of simple model organisms, but telomere maintenance turned out to be quite different in these species compared to human cells. Recently, the Baumann Lab used a biochemical approach to identify and clone the RNA subunit of telomerase in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, or fission yeast.
"The identification of the fission yeast equivalent of the telomerase RNA gene provides us with a critical tool to study telomerase in a genetically tractable, single-cell organism with a telomere maintenance machinery that shares many features with human cells," explained Peter Baumann, Ph.D., Assistant Investigator and senior author on the paper. "We and others had been studying telomerase activity, recruitment, and regulation for several years but the fact that the RNA subunit was unknown in our fission yeast model system severely limited our ability to make progress."
Now that the missing component of the model system has been identified, the Baumann Lab's structural and functional studies are expected to progress rapidly. The lab is now turning its attention to how and where telomerase is assembled from its components in the cell and what processing it must undergo to become active.
Stowers Institute for Medical Research
Telomerase RNA has been studied in a variety of simple model organisms, but telomere maintenance turned out to be quite different in these species compared to human cells. Recently, the Baumann Lab used a biochemical approach to identify and clone the RNA subunit of telomerase in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, or fission yeast.
"The identification of the fission yeast equivalent of the telomerase RNA gene provides us with a critical tool to study telomerase in a genetically tractable, single-cell organism with a telomere maintenance machinery that shares many features with human cells," explained Peter Baumann, Ph.D., Assistant Investigator and senior author on the paper. "We and others had been studying telomerase activity, recruitment, and regulation for several years but the fact that the RNA subunit was unknown in our fission yeast model system severely limited our ability to make progress."
Now that the missing component of the model system has been identified, the Baumann Lab's structural and functional studies are expected to progress rapidly. The lab is now turning its attention to how and where telomerase is assembled from its components in the cell and what processing it must undergo to become active.
Stowers Institute for Medical Research
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Telomerase Current Events and Telomerase News RSSImmune cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis have prematurely aged chromosomes
Telomeres, structures that cap the ends of cells' chromosomes, grow shorter with each round of cell division unless a specialized enzyme replenishes them. Maintaining telomeres is thought to be important for healthy aging and cancer prevention.
Testes stem cell can change into other body tissues, Stanford/UCSF study shows
Scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine and at UC-San Francisco have succeeded in isolating stem cells from human testes.
UT Southwestern researchers identify gene linked to inherited form of fatal lung disease
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have determined that a mutation in a gene known for its role in defending the lungs against invading pathogens is responsible for some inherited cases of a lethal lung disease affecting older adults. The same mutation may also be associated with lung cancer, the researchers said.
Researchers use chemical from medicinal plants to fight HIV
Like other kinds of cells, immune cells lose the ability to divide as they age because a part of their chromosomes known as a telomere becomes progressively shorter with cell division. As a result, the cell changes in many ways, and its disease fighting ability is compromised.
Scientists identify possible cause of endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition whereby patches of the inner lining of the womb appear in parts of the body other than the womb cavity. It can cause severe pain and affects approximately 15% of women of reproductive age. Endometriosis is also associated with infertility, with 50% of infertile women affected by the condition.
UGA researchers discover mechanism that explains how cancer enzyme winds up on ends of chromosomes
Human cancer cells divide and conquer. Unless physicians can control that division with surgery, chemotherapy or radiation, the wildly dividing cells will eventually destroy a person's life.
Researchers find way to make tumor cells easier to destroy
Tumors have a unique vulnerability that can be exploited to make them more sensitive to heat and radiation, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report.
Menstrual blood -- a valuable source of multipotential stem cells?
Researchers seeking new and more abundant sources of stem cells for use in regenerative medicine have identified a potentially unlimited, noncontroversial, easily collectable, and inexpensive source - menstrual blood.
Evolution of human genome's 'guardian' gives people unique protections from DNA damage
Human evolution has created enhancements in key genes connected to the p53 regulatory network - the so-called guardian of the genome - by creating additional safeguards in human genes to boost the network's ability to guard against DNA damage that could cause cancer or a variety of genetic diseases.
New telomere discovery could help explain why cancer cells never stop dividing
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Telomeres and Telomerase in Aging, Disease, and Cancer: Molecular Mechanisms of Adult Stem Cell Ageing by K. Lenhard Rudolph (Author), K. Lenhard Rudolph (Editor) The understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the ageing process is essential to improve quality of life and health span in the growing populations of the elderly. Telomere shortening represents one of the basic aspects of ageing and telomere dysfunction could contribute to the accumulation of DNA damage during ageing. This book summarizes experimental evidence and clinical data indicating that telomere dysfunction influences human ageing, diseases and cancer. In addition, the book describes our current knowledge on checkpoints that limit cellular lifespan (senescence) and survival (apoptosis, crisis) in response to telomere dysfunction. A special focus of the book is on adult stem cells. There is emerging evidence that adult stem cell ageing impairs... |
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Telomeres and Telomerase in Aging, Disease, and Cancer: Molecular Mechanisms of Adult Stem Cell Ageing by Springer The understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the ageing process is essential to improve quality of life and health span in the growing populations of the elderly. Telomere shortening represents one of the basic aspects of ageing and telomere dysfunction could contribute to the accumulation of DNA damage during ageing. This book summarizes experimental evidence and clinical data indicating that telomere dysfunction influences human ageing, diseases and cancer. In addition, the book describes our current knowledge on checkpoints that limit cellular lifespan (senescence) and survival (apoptosis, crisis) in response to telomere dysfunction. A special focus of the book is on adult stem cells. There is emerging evidence that adult stem cell ageing impairs... |
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Jan Marini Age Intervention REGENERATION BOOSTER for Science-Based Compound for Dramatically Younger Looking Skin by Jan Marini Skin Research Aging skin is still a reality, but the key to aging may reside in the ability to stabilize telomeres by allowing cells to "reset their aging clocks." Now our extraordinary new skin care compound captures the emerging science of topical Telomerase Enzyme as a realistic science-based option for dramatically younger looking skin. -Age Intervention Regeneration Booster combines Telomerase Enzyme in combination with anti-inflammatory agents, select peptides and other proven significant skin enhancing ingredients. An independent clinical study demonstrates measurable, significant and lasting improvements in the appearance of: Lines and wrinkles Elasticity Firmness Texture Discoloration Overall radiance, suppleness and hydration Each program consists of six mini-bottles, including one... |
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The Telomerase Project by William A. Gilmartin (Author) A secret project inside a cancer research company results in a remarkable discovery--a way to stop and reverse the aging process! But a power hungry venture capitalist and a government agency want to control it. The scientist behind the discovery is forced to disappear. His daughter and best friend become bait in a deadly manhunt that starts in Silicon Valley, moves into the high mountains of Colorado and ends in Washington D.C. Is the world ready for life ever lasting? Who gets to decide? |
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Telomerases, Telomeres and Cancer by Springer Text provides insights to the most recent discoveries in telomere biology with applications in tumor diagnostics and potentials in cancer therapy. Features discussions on diverse organisms and eukaryotes. |
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Telomeres and Telomerase in Cancer (Cancer Drug Discovery and Development) by Keiko Hiyama (Editor) Telomerase, an enzyme that maintains telomeres and endows eukaryotic cells with immortality, was first discovered in tetrahymena in 1985. In 1990s, it was proven that this enzyme also plays a key role in the infinite proliferation of human cancer cells. Now telomere and telomerase are widely accepted as important factors involved in cancer biology, and as promising diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets. Recently, role of telomerase in 'cancer stem cells' has become another attractive story. Until now, there are several good books on telomere and telomerase focusing on biology in ciliates, yeasts, and mouse or basic sciences in human, providing basic scientists or students with updated knowledge. |
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Telomeres and Telomerase: Reprint of Cytogenetic and Genome Research, Vol. 122, No. 3-4, 2008 by Predrag Slijepcevic (Editor) |
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Telomerases, Telomeres and Cancer (Molecular Biology Intelligence Unit) by Guido Krupp (Editor), Reza Parwaresch (Editor) Text provides insights to the most recent discoveries in telomere biology with applications in tumor diagnostics and potentials in cancer therapy. Features discussions on diverse organisms and eukaryotes. |
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Forever and Ever by Catbird Publishing Forever and Ever, by San Francisco Bay Area writer Dan A. Baker (One Man's War, Taylor Trade) is the first novel to explore the fascinating possibilities and social dilemmas of gene-based aging reversal and engineered human immortality. Developed over a five year research period with the help of an eminent molecular biologist, Forever and Ever provides a rare journey into the high stakes world of modern biotechnology, where edgy, brilliant scientists cross paths with desperate billionaires, drug pirates, and the unlimited power of the world's elite. Recently compared to the best work of Michael Crichton, Forever and Ever is unusual in that the protagonist is a courageous woman scientist. Battling tragedy, relentless irony, and a torrid love affair, Jasmine Metcalf... |
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Way found to treat variety of diseases using human cells immortalized in lab with enzyme telomerase.: An article from: Transplant News b This digital document is an article from Transplant News, published by Transplant Communications, Inc. on January 31, 1999. The length of the article is 448 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser. Citation Details Title: Way found to treat variety of diseases using human cells immortalized in lab with enzyme telomerase. Publication: Transplant News (Newsletter) Date: January 31, 1999 Publisher: Transplant Communications, Inc. Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Page: NA Distributed by Thomson... |
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