Cloning of a Novel Telomerase Associated Protein from Human Cells

Telomerase activity is associated with human cancer and is often associated with the selection of cells that grow well after immortalization. Since cancer cells have high levels of telomerase, some tumors may require telomerase for growth. However, cells grown from a telomerase knockout mouse form tumors suggesting that not all tumors require telomerase. These knockout mice show an increase in aneuploidy and problems with cell division. The RNA component of telomerase has been the subject of study for several years and many laboratories have begun to isolate the protein components. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have identified a novel protein, Telomerase associated Protein (TEP3), which is associated with telomerase RNA and telomerase activity in human cells. Immunoprecipitation of TEP3, but not non-specific proteins isolated telomerase activity. In addition co-immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrate that TEP3 interacts with the catalytic subunit of telomerase.
Patent (Set) 6,300,131;

Patents:
US 6,300,131

Inventor(s): Greider, Carol W

Type of Offer: Licensing



« More Pharmaceutical Patents

---