Advances in understanding telomerase assembly

Abstract

Telomerase is a complex ribonucleoprotein scaffolded by the telomerase RNA (TR). Telomere lengthening by telomerase is essential to maintain the proliferative potential of stem cells and germ cells, and telomerase is inappropriately activated in the majority of cancers. Assembly of TR with its 12 protein co-factors and the maturation of the 5′- and 3′-ends of TR have been the focus of intense research efforts over the past two decades. High-resolution Cryo-EM structures of human telomerase, high-throughput sequencing of the 3′ end of TR, and live cell imaging of various telomerase components have significantly advanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that govern telomerase biogenesis, yet many important questions remain unaddressed. In this review, we will summarize these recent advances and highlight the remaining key questions with the ultimate goal of targeting telomerase assembly to suppress telomere maintenance in cancer cells or to promote telomerase activity in patients affected by telomere shortening disorders.