Telomeric repeat containing RNAs (TERRA) are small RNA molecules synthesized from telomeric regions which were previously considered as silent genomic domains. In normal cells, these RNAs are transcribed in a direction from subtelomeric region towards the chromosome ends, but in case of cancer cells, their expression remains limited or absent. Telomerase is a rate limiting enzyme for cellular senescence, cancer and aging. Most of the studies deal with the manipulation of telomerase enzyme in cancer and aging either by synthetic oligonucleotide or by natural phytochemicals. Here, we collected evidences and discussed intensely about the bio-molecular structure of TERRA, naturally occurring ligands of telomerase, and their genetic and epigenetic regulations in aging associated diseases. Due to their capability to act as naturally occurring ligands of telomerase, these RNAs can overcome the limitations possessed by synthetic oligonucleotides, which are aimed against telomerase. Drugs specifically targeting TERRA molecules could modulate telomerase-mediated telomere lengthening. Thus, targeting TERRA-mediated regulation of telomerase would be a promising therapeutic strategy against cancer and age-associated diseases.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871527314666150317230124 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Flanking Effect on the Folding of Telomeric DNA Sequences into G-Quadruplex Induced by Antimalarial Drugs.
J Phys Chem B
January 2025
School of the Chemical Science, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India.
The folding of the guanine repetitive region in the telomere unit into G-quadruplex (G4) by drugs has been suggested as an alternative approach for cancer therapy. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and chloroquine (CQ) are two important drugs in the trial stage for cancer. Both drugs can induce the folding of telomere-guanine-rich sequences into G4 even in the absence of salt.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe chromosome 5p15.33 region, which encodes telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), harbors multiple germline variants identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) as risk for some cancers but protective for others. We characterized a variable number tandem repeat within intron 6 (VNTR6-1, 38-bp repeat unit) and observed a strong association between VNTR6-1 alleles (Short: 24-27 repeats, Long: 40.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTelomere-to-telomere sheep genome assembly identifies variants associated with wool fineness.
Nat Genet
January 2025
Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding (MOE); State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding; College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
Ongoing efforts to improve sheep reference genome assemblies still leave many gaps and incomplete regions, resulting in a few common failures and errors in genomic studies. Here, we report a 2.85-Gb gap-free telomere-to-telomere genome of a ram (T2T-sheep1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSolitary median maxillary central incisor syndrome caused by 22q11.2 microdeletion.
Clin Pediatr Endocrinol
January 2025
Department of Pediatrics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Solitary median maxillary central incisor (SMMCI) syndrome, the mildest form of the holoprosencephaly spectrum, is a rare anomaly characterized by the presence of a single midline central incisor in both the deciduous and permanent dentitions. Affected individuals can present with additional midline defects beyond dental findings. The 22q11.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe single-stranded DNA-binding factor SUB1/PC4 alleviates replication stress at telomeres and is a vulnerability of ALT cancer cells.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
January 2025
Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada.
To achieve replicative immortality, cancer cells must activate telomere maintenance mechanisms. In 10 to 15% of cancers, this is enabled by recombination-based alternative lengthening of telomeres pathways (ALT). ALT cells display several hallmarks including heterogeneous telomere length, extrachromosomal telomeric repeats, and ALT-associated PML bodies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!