Telomerase Activity
Telomerase Activity - Related Videos
09:25
In vitro Reconstitution of the Active T. castaneum Telomerase
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Cited by 5 •
2011
Efforts to isolate the catalytic subunit of telomerase, TERT, in sufficient quantities for structural studies, have been met with limited success for more than a decade. Here, we present methods for the isolation of the recombinant Tribolium castaneum TERT (TcTERT) and the reconstitution of the active T. castaneum telomerase ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex in vitro.
12:08
Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity; A Yin and Yang of Cell Senescence
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Cited by 29 •
2013
An accurate, short, sophisticated and cheap method is described that assesses telomere length in multiple tissues and species using qRT-PCR. In addition, we will describe a simple assay to assess telomerase activity as a complementary backbone test for telomere length.
02:41
Telomeres and Telomerase
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2020
In eukaryotic DNA replication, a single-stranded DNA fragment remains at the end of a chromosome after the removal of the final primer. This section of DNA cannot be replicated in the same manner as the rest of the strand because there is no 3’ end to which the newly synthesized DNA can attach. This non-replicated fragment results in gradual loss of the chromosomal DNA during each cell duplication. Additionally, it can induce a DNA damage response by enzymes that recognize single-stranded DNA.
02:41
Telomeres and Telomerase
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2023
In eukaryotic DNA replication, a single-stranded DNA fragment remains at the end of a chromosome after the removal of the final primer. This section of DNA cannot be replicated in the same manner as the rest of the strand because there is no 3’ end to which the newly synthesized DNA can attach. This non-replicated fragment results in gradual loss of the chromosomal DNA during each cell duplication. Additionally, it can induce a DNA damage response by enzymes that recognize single-stranded DNA.
10:14
Telomerase Activity in the Various Regions of Mouse Brain: Non-Radioactive Telomerase Repeat Amplification Protocol (TRAP) Assay
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Cited by 8 •
2014
Telomerase is expressed in the neonatal brain and also in distinct regions of the adult brain. We present a non-toxic time saving TRAP assay for the analysis of telomerase activity in various regions of the mouse brain and detection of differences in telomerase activity between male and female mouse brains.
FAQs
The internal RNA template provides the sequence information needed to add telomere repeats, while the reverse transcriptase component carries out their synthesis. Their coordinated action allows telomerase to compensate for telomere loss associated with DNA replication. This molecular partnership explains how the enzyme can support chromosome-end maintenance during repeated cell divisions.
Telomerase activity is maintained in cell populations that must continue dividing, including germ cells, stem cells, and some renewing tissues. In contrast, most somatic cells show little or no activity. This difference links telomere maintenance to the biological demands of each cell type, particularly the need for sustained proliferation versus the limited division of many mature cells.
By extending telomeres, telomerase helps compensate for the progressive shortening that can accompany DNA replication. Maintaining these protective chromosome-end sequences supports chromosome stability as cells divide repeatedly. When activity is limited, telomere shortening becomes more prominent, making telomere maintenance an important part of understanding how cells preserve chromosome integrity over successive rounds of proliferation.
Measurements of telomerase activity provide evidence about how cells maintain telomeres and sustain proliferation. Researchers can use this information to examine cellular aging, chromosome stability, and regeneration. Activity patterns also help identify differences between cell populations, such as renewing or stem-cell-related cells and most somatic cells, whose telomerase activity is generally low or absent.
Comparing these cell types shows how telomere maintenance corresponds to their proliferative roles. Germ cells, stem cells, and some renewing tissues require continued division and therefore support telomerase activity, whereas most somatic cells do not. Such comparisons help researchers connect enzyme activity with regeneration, tissue maintenance, and the differing patterns of cellular aging.
Many cancers reactivate telomerase activity, making this enzyme pattern relevant to studies of abnormal cellular proliferation. Measuring activity can help researchers investigate how cancer cells differ from most somatic cells in their handling of telomeres. In this context, telomerase activity connects chromosome-end maintenance with cancer biology and provides a way to study altered regulation.