Telomerase in 3D format
Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley, working under the guidance of Professor Juli Feigon, for the first time figured out how the components of the telomerase enzymatic complex are combined into a single three-dimensional structure that ensures its full functioning.
Telomerase is a complex of components that combine inside a cell in order to restore the end sections of telomere chromosomes that shorten during division. The function of telomeres is to protect genetic information, and their gradual shortening inevitably leads to aging and cell death.
While most cells of the body have relatively low levels of telomerase activity, 80-90% of malignant cells use the ability of this enzyme to restore shortening telomeres to ensure their own immortality.
As part of their work, the authors deciphered the structure of telomerase of Tetrahymena thermophila infusoria, a unicellular eukaryotic organism in which telomeres and telomerase were discovered for the first time. (For this discovery, the Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded in 2009.) At the same time, they not only determined the exact location of the components of the telomerase enzymatic complex relative to each other, but also found out the roles belonging to these components in the activity of the enzyme. Thus, they were able to demonstrate the relationship between the structure of the enzyme molecule and its biochemical function.
According to the researchers, inhibition of telomerase activity will not cause damage to most healthy cells, but it will be able to stop the progression of various types of malignant tumors.
Therefore, decoding the structure of this enzyme is of great importance for the development of antitumor pharmacological drugs.
Article by Jiansen Jiang et al. The architecture of Tetrahymena telomerase holoenzyme is published in the journal Nature.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of the University of California – Los Angeles:
Scientists map elusive 3-D structure of telomerase enzyme, key actor in cancer, aging.
16.04.2013