Affiliation:
1. Department Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, WY, United States
Abstract
Background:
Although telomerase has potential for age-related disease intervention, the
overexpression of telomerase in about 90% of cancers, and in HIV virus reservoirs, cautions against
se in anti-aging telomerase therapeutics. While multiple reviews document the canonical function
of telomerase for maintenance of telomeres, as well as an increasing numbers of reviews that reveal
new non-canonical functions of telomerase, there was no systematic review that focuses on the array
of associates of the subunit of Telomerase Reverse transcriptase protein (TERT) as pieces of
the puzzle to assemble a picture of the how specific TERT complexes uniquely impact aging and
age-related diseases and more can be expected.
Methods:
A structured search of bibliographic data on TERT complexes was undertaken using databases
from the National Center for Biotechnology Information Pubmed with extensive access to
biomedical and genomic information in order to obtain a unique documented and cited overview of
TERT complexes that may uniquely impact aging and age-related diseases.
Results:
The TERT associations include proper folding, intracellular TERT transport, metabolism,
mitochondrial ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) regulation, inflammation, cell division, cell death,
and gene expression, in addition to the well-known telomere maintenance. While increase of cell
cycle inhibitors promote aging, in cancer, the cell cycle check-point regulators are ambushed in favor
of cell proliferation, while cytoplasmic TERT protects a cell cycle inhibitor in oxidative stress.
The oncogene cMyc regulates gene expression for overexpression of TERT, and reduction of cell
cycle inhibitors-the perfect storm for cancer promotion. TERT binds with the oncogene RMRP
RNA, and TERT-RMRP function can regulate levels of that oncogene RNA, and TERT in a TBN
complex can regulate heterochromatin. Telomerase benefit and novel function in neurology and
cardiology studies open new anti- aging hope. GV1001, a 16 amino acid peptide of TERT that associates
with Heat Shock Proteins (HSP’s), bypasses the cell membrane with remarkable anti disease
potential.
Conclusions:
TERT “associates” are anti-cancer targets for downregulation, but upregulation in
antiaging therapy. The overview revealed that unique TERT associations that impact all seven pillars
of aging identified by the Trans-NIH Geroscience Initiative that influence aging and urge research
for appropriate targeted telomerase supplements/ stimulation, and inclusion in National Institute
on Aging Intervention Testing Program. The preference for use of available “smart drugs”,
targeted to only cancer, not off-target anti- aging telomerase is implied by the multiplicity of TERT
associates functions.
Publisher
Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Cited by
15 articles.
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