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Structure of telomerase RNA and telomeric proteins


EMSL Project ID
7606

Abstract

Telomerase is the ribonucleoprotein (RNP) enzyme responsible in most eukaryotes for the replication of the chromosome termini (telomeres). Since telomerase is selectively activated in most human cancers, its inhibition could provide new antineoplastic agents with broad activity. Despite its importance, there are at the moment only a few high-resolution structures from NMR for the protein components of telomerase or the essential structural domains of its RNA component. This is a critical limiting point in efforts directed at addressing the biological function of this enzyme. We are studying the structure/function relationships of human telomerase, we are studying the structure of two critical domains of human telomerase responsible respectively for RNA biogenesis and for recruitment of the catalytic activity to the holoenzyme. We are also studying a domain of yeast telomerase RNA responsible for targeting telomerase to the telomeres. Because we ultimately aim to use this information for drug design; the quality of the structure is of the utmost importance; access to the highest available field is therefore essential.

Project Details

Project type
Capability Research
Start Date
2004-08-01
End Date
2004-09-30
Status
Closed

Team

Principal Investigator

Gabriele Varani
Institution
University of Washington

Team Members

Thomas Leeper
Institution
University of Washington