Human Molecular Genetics, Vol 6, 1999-2004, Copyright © 1997 by Oxford University Press
D Kipling
For the second time this year random cDNA sequencing, in combination with
data from unicellular eukaryotes, has made a significant contribution to
the analysis of human telomerase. Two groups have reported mammalian
homologues of the Tetrahymena p80 telomerase- associated protein, in both
cases the key breakthrough being mammalian cDNA clones with database
matches to Tetrahymena p80. This has now been joined by the sequence of a
candidate for the human telomerase catalytic subunit. The discovery that
its message abundance closely follows telomerase activity could make a
major impact on the utility of telomerase as a diagnostic marker for human
malignancy. In addition, Blasco et al . report the phenotype of a
transgenic mouse deleted for the mTR gene, which encodes the essential RNA
component of telomerase. Interestingly tumour formation is unaffected in
these mice, strengthening the argument that telomerase expression in mouse
tumourigenesis is an innocent bystander rather than a necessary event.
However, fundamental differences between the genomic organisation of mouse
and human telomeres mean that the mouse is not a straightforward model to
critically test the role of telomere loss and telomerase in human
malignancy.
REVIEWS
Mammalian telomerase: catalytic subunit and knockout mice
Department of Pathology, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF4 4XN, UK. kiplingd@cardiff.ac.uk
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