Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase
Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase - Related Videos
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.
03:35
Assessing Viral Replication Capacity Using a Radiolabeled Reverse Transcriptase Assay
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2026
Source: Claiborne, D. T. et al. A Restriction Enzyme Based Cloning Method to Assess the In vitro Replication Capacity of HIV-1 Subtype C Gag-MJ4 Chimeric Viruses. J. Vis. Exp. (2014)This video demonstrates the assessment of viral replication capacity using a radiolabeled reverse transcriptase assay. Culture supernatants containing progeny virions are added to a reverse transcription mixture containing a radiolabeled nucleotide. The incorporated signal reflects viral output and replication...
08:26
Semi-quantitative Detection of RNA-dependent RNA Polymerase Activity of Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Protein
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Cited by 5 •
2018
Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) synthesizes not only telomeric DNA but also double-stranded RNA through RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity. Here, we describe a newly established assay to detect RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity of endogenous TERT.
03:26
Reverse Transcriptase Activity as a Marker for Virus-Like Particle Production
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2026
Source: Scarborough, R. J., et al. Evaluation of the Efficacy And Toxicity of RNAs Targeting HIV-1 Production for Use in Gene or Drug Therapy. J. Vis. Exp. (2016).This video demonstrates a reverse transcriptase (RT) assay to assess the effect of a test RNA on virus-like particle (VLP) production. Cells are co-transfected with plasmids, and RT activity is measured as a quantitative indicator of VLP output. A decrease in RT activity reflects suppression of viral gene expression by the test RNA.
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.
FAQs
TERT supplies the catalytic activity that enables telomerase to extend chromosome ends. It works with the complex’s RNA component, which provides the template for adding telomeric DNA repeats. This division of roles links protein catalysis with sequence-directed synthesis, allowing telomere maintenance to address the replication-associated loss of terminal DNA.
Telomere maintenance through TERT affects more than chromosome-end length. By counteracting progressive shortening, it helps connect DNA replication with genome stability and the number of times a cell can continue dividing. Studying this relationship helps explain how cells balance a finite replicative lifespan against the need to preserve chromosome integrity.
TERT activity differs sharply among cell types. Most somatic cells restrict telomerase activity, whereas many stem cells and cancer cells sustain it. This contrast makes TERT useful for examining how telomere maintenance relates to renewal capacity, persistent proliferation, and the distinct biological demands of normal tissue renewal versus tumor biology.
TERT research helps connect telomere biology with aging because limited maintenance can permit progressive shortening as cells replicate. At the same time, telomere preservation relates to genome stability and cellular renewal. Examining these linked outcomes gives biology a framework for studying how chromosome-end maintenance may influence age-associated changes without reducing aging to a single mechanism.
In regenerative medicine, TERT is relevant because telomere maintenance is tied to a cell’s renewal capacity. Investigators can use this relationship to consider how cells sustain replication while preserving chromosome ends. The topic therefore connects molecular telomere biology with questions about tissue renewal, cellular lifespan, and the ability of cells to maintain function over time.
TERT also has importance in tumor biology and telomere-based therapy research. Sustained activity in many cancer cells highlights telomere maintenance as a feature associated with continued proliferation, while the same system is relevant to potential interventions that target telomeres. These applications require considering both genome stability and the effects on cellular renewal.