Telomerase
Telomerase is a specialised ribonucleoprotein reverse transcriptase enzyme[1]. It carries its own RNA molecule. Telomerase is functional at the tips of chromosomes in areas known as telomeres. The main function of telomerase is to extend the 3' ends of DNA strands by adding 'TTAGGG' repeat sequences as it is not possible for DNA polymerase to replicate 3' ends. Elizabeth Blackburn (molecular biologist, co-discoverer of telomerase and co-winner of the 2009 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine) compared telomeres to the tips of the shoelaces which help to prevent fraying[2]. Telomeres function to protect DNA from molecular attack as well as preventing strands of genetic material from 'sticking' to the DNA strand[3]. Telomerase is
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Telomerase is a unique enzyme as in addition to having DNA polymerase activity, it also contains an RNA sequence template which is complementarity to the repeating telomeric sequence. It consists of various RNA subunits including TP1, TP2 and TERT. TERT is a catalytic subunit that is homologous to reverse transcriptase. Its 'fingers' and thumb' pull the telomerase RNA and telomere DNA strands to the active site- the 'palm' where the telomere is elongated[4]. Unlike other polymerases, TERT also includes an amino-terminous which binds telomerase …show more content…
They showed that the ends of chromosomes are protected by telomeres and telomerase. Jack Szostak studied yeast cells and saw that their linear chromosomes were rapidly degraded. Coupled Blankburn's study of telomeres in Tetrahymena, they decided to couple yeast minichromosomes and Tetrahymena telomeres to see if the telomeres could prevent chromosome degreadation. The experimental outline is shown below in Figure 4. They proved their hypothesis and showed that telomeres and telomerase are capable of protecting