端粒、端粒酶的研究与人类肿瘤

近年来 ,有关端粒、端粒酶及其与人类肿瘤关系问题已经成为学科研究较为关注的热点 ,认为人类端粒酶与恶性肿瘤的发生和人的衰老之间具有非常密切的关系 ,研究已取得了长足的进展 .本文介绍了一些研究成果、进展情况 ,探讨端粒、端粒酶活性同肿瘤诊断之间的关系 .     

端粒酶与食管癌、胃癌相关性的研究

端粒是染色体DNA端部的特化部分，由高度重复的短序列DNA一蛋白质组成的特殊结构，能维持染色体的稳定和完整．端粒酶是由RNA与蛋白质亚基组成的核糖核蛋白酶，能以自身RNA为模板，合成端粒序列，是一种非常特殊的逆转录酶．端粒的长度和端粒酶的活性与细胞永生化，细胞衰老和癌变密切相关，在肿瘤发生发展中，端粒酶成为一种重要的肿瘤生物学标志物，有望作为诊断和治疗肿瘤的新靶点．本对端粒酶的结构与功能，端粒酶与食管癌、胃癌相关性的研究新进展及端粒酶活性的检测方法做一简要综述．     

端粒、端粒酶与细胞衰老及肿瘤的研究进展(综述)

端粒是真核生物线形染色体末端的一种特殊的异质化结构,在稳定染色体及防止染色体在复制时缩短方面有重要作用。其行为的异常被认为同细胞衰老及肿瘤的发生发展有密切关系。端粒酶是一个特殊的具有反转录活性的核糖核蛋白。近来的研究表明,端粒酶已不仅仅能维持端粒的长度,它更有助于肿瘤的形成。笔者综述了端粒的缩短所扮演的双重角色,以及端粒酶的激活与肿瘤之间的关系。     

端粒酶与肿瘤研究的新进展

端粒酶是维持染色体长度及功能稳定的重要物质．研究表明,端粒、端粒酶与细胞寿命直接相关．通过对端粒酶的活性及在表达程度的研究进—步发现其与肿瘤的发生和转移具有十分密切的关系．人们正在研究将端粒酶的表达水平作为肿瘤诊断和愈后的指标,并可能将端粒酶抑制列为肿瘤治疗的新方法．     

人端粒酶逆转录酶核酶抑制端粒酶活性的实验研究

目的　为有效地切割端粒酶逆转录酶mRNA以降低端粒酶活性 ,从而使肿瘤细胞生长变慢 ,凋亡增加 .方法　设计并合成了 2个针对端粒酶逆转录酶mRNA的锤头状核酶基因htertRZ及htert 5’RZ ,构建了核酶基因的体外转录和真核表达质粒 ;并将核酶转染致肿瘤细胞中 ,检测其对肿瘤细胞端粒酶活性和生物学性状的影响 .结果　 2种核酶在细胞内均能明显地抑制端粒酶活性 ;核酶htertRZ稳定转染细胞后 ,使细胞生长变慢 ,倍增时间延长 ,但无明显促细胞凋亡作用 .结论　 2种核酶可望成为有效的端粒酶抑制剂 ,在抑制肿瘤生长中发挥作用 .     

端粒酶与妇科肿瘤诊治的研究进展

端粒酶是一种RNA依赖的逆转录酶,其激活是细胞永生化和肿瘤形成的关键步骤。在妇科肿瘤的发生过程中,端粒酶活性和hTERT的表达与肿瘤的进展具有相关性。端粒酶及其催化亚单位成为妇科肿瘤早期诊断和预后判断的生物学指标。因此,抑制端粒酶活性有望成为妇科肿瘤治疗的新策略。     

端粒酶与口腔恶性肿瘤

端粒酶是一种具有逆转录活性的核蛋白酶,可维持端粒正常的生理功能,而端粒酶活性表达与口腔恶性肿瘤的发生、发展有密切的关系,并为人们治疗口腔恶性肿瘤以及其他肿瘤提供新思路与新方法.文章将对端粒酶生物学特性及其在口腔恶性肿瘤中的研究进展做一综述.     

端粒酶在宫颈癌诊断和治疗中的研究进展

宫颈癌是女性生殖系统第一位的恶性肿瘤,近年来有年轻化趋势,高危型HPV16、18感染是宫颈癌发生、发展的重要启动因素.端粒酶是一种核糖核蛋白酶,能逆转录合成端粒,维持端粒长度的稳定.其在正常组织中活性很低,而在肿瘤细胞中活性较高,与细胞永生化或恶性转化密切相关.宫颈癌的发生机制与端粒酶激活有关,端粒酶不仅是恶性肿瘤诊断重要的靶点,也是探索肿瘤治疗方法的关键.因此,文章对端粒酶在宫颈癌诊断和治疗中的研究进展进行综述.     

人端粒酶逆转录酶核酶抑制端粒酶活性的实验研究

为有效切割端粒酶逆转录酶mRNA为抑制端粒酶活性,设计合成了针对端粒酶逆转录酶mRNA的核酶基因htert RZ及htert-5'RZ,构建了核酶基因的体外转录和真核表达质粒,将核酶转染至肿瘤细胞中,均能抑制端酶活性,核酶heterRZ稳定转染细胞后,使细胞倍增时间长,但无明显细胞凋亡,因而,二种核酶可望成为有效的端粒酶抑制剂,用于抑制肿瘤生长。     

The human CST complex is a terminator of telomerase activity

The lengths of human telomeres, which protect chromosome ends from degradation and end fusions, are crucial determinants of cell lifespan. During embryogenesis and in cancer, the telomerase enzyme counteracts telomeric DNA shortening. As shown in cancer cells, human telomerase binds the shelterin component TPP1 at telomeres during the S phase of the cell cycle, and adds ~60 nucleotides in a single round of extension, after which telomerase is turned off by unknown mechanisms. Here we show that the human CST (CTC1, STN1 and TEN1) complex, previously implicated in telomere protection and DNA metabolism, inhibits telomerase activity through primer sequestration and physical interaction with the protection of telomeres 1 (POT1)–TPP1 telomerase processivity factor. CST competes with POT1–TPP1 for telomeric DNA, and CST–telomeric-DNA binding increases during late S/G2 phase only on telomerase action, coinciding with telomerase shut-off. Depletion of CST allows excessive telomerase activity, promoting telomere elongation. We propose that through binding of the telomerase-extended telomere, CST limits telomerase action at individual telomeres to approximately one binding and extension event per cell cycle. Our findings define the sequence of events that occur to first enable and then terminate telomerase-mediated telomere elongation.     

POT1 as a terminal transducer of TRF1 telomere length control

Human telomere maintenance is essential for the protection of chromosome ends, and changes in telomere length have been implicated in ageing and cancer. Human telomere length is regulated by the TTAGGG-repeat-binding protein TRF1 and its interacting partners tankyrase 1, TIN2 and PINX1 (refs 5-9). As the TRF1 complex binds to the duplex DNA of the telomere, it is unclear how it can affect telomerase, which acts on the single-stranded 3' telomeric overhang. Here we show that the TRF1 complex interacts with a single-stranded telomeric DNA-binding protein--protection of telomeres 1 (POT1)--and that human POT1 controls telomerase-mediated telomere elongation. The presence of POT1 on telomeres was diminished when the amount of single-stranded DNA was reduced. Furthermore, POT1 binding was regulated by the TRF1 complex in response to telomere length. A mutant form of POT1 lacking the DNA-binding domain abrogated TRF1-mediated control of telomere length, and induced rapid and extensive telomere elongation. We propose that the interaction between the TRF1 complex and POT1 affects the loading of POT1 on the single-stranded telomeric DNA, thus transmitting information about telomere length to the telomere terminus, where telomerase is regulated.     

In vivo alteration of telomere sequences and senescence caused by mutated Tetrahymena telomerase RNAs.

Mutating the CAACCCCAA sequence in the RNA component of telomerase causes the synthesis in vivo of new telomere sequences corresponding to the mutated RNA sequence, demonstrating that the telomerase contains the template for telomere synthesis. These mutations also lead to nuclear and cell division defects, and senescence, establishing an essential role for telomerase in vivo.     

关于端粒酶研究:结果与问题

端粒酶是一种由RNA和蛋白质构成的复合结构，在活性状态下端粒酶可以其自身的RNA中的内设模板区为模板，以逆转录方式为染色体末端“加尾”。端粒酶活性的恢复是动物克隆成功的关键因素之一。但是，端粒酶活性恢复机制、端粒酶基因表达调控信号及端粒酶活性与衰老体细胞中染色体端粒恢复的关系等问题还有待研究解决。     

端粒酶核酶抑制肿瘤细胞生长的研究

已证明有84.7%的人类恶性肿瘤组织细胞中端粒酶表达异常增高.端粒酶的作用是合成染色体末端端粒重复序列维持染色体稳定及细胞永生化的关键因素.因此,端粒酶在肿瘤发生发展中起重要作用,是目前最广泛的肿瘤标志物.核酶是一种具有内切酶活性的RNA分子,只要满足一定的空间结构就能定点切割RNA底物.切割端粒酶的核酶(简称为端粒酶核酶)主要针对端粒酶的两个亚单位hTR和hTERT抑制两基因的表达,降低端粒酶的活性,抑制肿瘤细胞的生长.     

The changes in telomerase activity and telomere length in HeLa cells undergoing apoptosis induced by sodium butyrate

The changes in telomerase activity and telomere length during apoptosis in HeLa cells as induced by sodium butyrate (SB) have been studied. After a 48 h SB treatment, HeLa cells demonstrated characteristic apoptotic hallmarks including chromatin condensation, formation of apoptotic bodies and DNA Laddering which were caused by the cleavage and degradation of DNA between nucleosomes. There were no significant changes in telomerase activity of apoptotic cells, while the telomere length shortened markedly. In the meanwhile, cells became more susceptible to apoptotic stimuli and telomere became more vulnerable to degradation after telomerase activity was inhibited. All the results suggest that the apoptosis induced by SB is closely related to telomere shortening, while telomerase enhances resistance of HeLa cells to apoptotic stimuli by protecting telomere.     

Defects in mismatch repair promote telomerase-independent proliferation

Mismatch repair has a central role in maintaining genomic stability by repairing DNA replication errors and inhibiting recombination between non-identical (homeologous) sequences. Defects in mismatch repair have been linked to certain human cancers, including hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) and sporadic tumours. A crucial requirement for tumour cell proliferation is the maintenance of telomere length, and most tumours achieve this by reactivating telomerase. In both yeast and human cells, however, telomerase-independent telomere maintenance can occur as a result of recombination-dependent exchanges between often imperfectly matched telomeric sequences. Here we show that loss of mismatch-repair function promotes cellular proliferation in the absence of telomerase. Defects in mismatch repair, including mutations that correspond to the same amino-acid changes recovered from HNPCC tumours, enhance telomerase-independent survival in both Saccharomyces cerevisiae and a related budding yeast with a degree of telomere sequence homology that is similar to human telomeres. These results indicate that enhanced telomeric recombination in human cells with mismatch-repair defects may contribute to cell immortalization and hence tumorigenesis.