Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase: Difference between revisions
Eran Hodis (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
Eran Hodis (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
||
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein enzyme. It adds specific telomeric DNA repeats to the 3'ends of linear chromosomes. | Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein enzyme. It adds specific telomeric DNA repeats to the 3'ends of linear chromosomes. | ||
It was discovered in 1985 by Freider and Blackburn in ''Tetrahymena''. Basically the Telomerase includes an '''RNA (TR) subunit''' and a subunit called '''Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT)'''. The function of the '''TR''' subunit is to provide the template for telomeric DNA synthesis, which is done by the TERT. | It was discovered in 1985 by Freider and Blackburn in ''Tetrahymena''. Basically the Telomerase includes an '''RNA (TR) subunit''' and a subunit called '''Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT)'''. The function of the '''TR''' subunit is to provide the template for telomeric DNA synthesis, which is done by the TERT. | ||
The structure of TERT is similar to other reverse transcriptases in their catalytic domain. In contrast to other reverse transcriptases the TERTs have a large N-terminal extension which is called '''TERT essential N-terminal (TEN) domain'''. <PMID: 16462747> | The structure of TERT is similar to other reverse transcriptases in their catalytic domain. In contrast to other reverse transcriptases the TERTs have a large N-terminal extension which is called '''TERT essential N-terminal (TEN) domain'''. <ref>PMID: 16462747</ref> | ||
TEN form stable interactions with the telomerase RNA (TR) subunit. | TEN form stable interactions with the telomerase RNA (TR) subunit. | ||
Binding of the RNA subunit is possible, because of the presence of TEN in TERTs. | Binding of the RNA subunit is possible, because of the presence of TEN in TERTs. | ||