DNA methylation of genes of the main components of the telomerase complex in Danio rerio.

The methylation status of the genes of telomerase reverse transcriptase (tert) and telomerase RNA (terc) was determined in brain tissues of Danio rerio of different age. It is found that, regardless of the age of fish, the regulatory region of the tert gene was completely methylated, whereas the coding region remained unmethylated in all cases. The level of methylation of the region located downstream of the coding region of the terc gene changes with age. This region was analyzed in the samples of other tissues, and its methylation status was also nonuniform. The alteration of the methylation status in the 3'-untranslated region of the terc gene suggests the possibility of transcription of the antisense strand in this region.

Oligonucleotide inhibitors of telomerase: prospects for anticancer therapy and diagnostics.

The activity of telomerase allows eukaryotic cells to have unlimited division potential. On its functioning, telomerase synthesizes short DNA repeats at the 3'-end of DNA within chromosomes that ensures genome stability during cell division. Telomerase is active in the majority of cancer cell types and is virtually absent in somatic cells with rare exceptions. This difference allows us to consider inhibition of telomerase activity as a possible approach to antitumor therapy. Telomerase is a nucleoprotein composed of two main components: the reverse transcriptase (hTERT), which is a catalytic subunit, and telomerase RNA (hTR), which encodes a template for synthesis of repeats. The biogenesis and features of telomerase seem very promising for its inhibition due to complementary interactions. In this review, we analyze putative pathways of oligonucleotide influence on telomerase and consider the known native and modified oligonucleotide inhibitors of telomerase, as well as possible mechanisms of their action. We also discuss the application of telomerase-targeted oligonucleotide conjugates for in vivo imaging of tumor cells.

Telomerase RNA biosynthesis and processing.

Telomerase synthesizes repetitive G-rich sequences (telomeric repeats) at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. This mechanism maintains the integrity of the genome, as telomere shortening leads to degradation and fusion of chromosomes. The core components of telomerase are the telomerase catalytic subunit and telomerase RNA, which possesses a small template region serving for the synthesis of a telomeric repeat. Mutations in the telomerase RNA are associated with some cases of aplastic anemia and also cause dyskeratosis congenita, myelodysplasia, and pulmonary fibrosis. Telomerase is active in 85% of cancers, and telomerase activation is one of the first steps in cell transformation. The study of telomerase and pathways where this enzyme is involved will help to understand the mechanism of the mentioned diseases and to develop new approaches for their treatment. In this review we describe the modern conception of telomerase RNA biosynthesis, processing, and functioning in the three most studied systems - yeast, vertebrates, and ciliates.