Naina B. answered • 05/09/16
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Hi Matt,
Telomerase is an enzyme that maintains and repairs telomeres. Telomeres are ends of chromosomes that undergo wear and tear throughout the life time.
Decreased telomerase activity is associated with rapid aging; on the contrary, restoring the activity decelerates aging and at times restores cellular youthfulness. This is why it is known as fountain of youth.
Here is the article and abstract:
Functional and mechanistic analysis of telomerase: An antitumor
drug target
Yinnan Chen b, Yanmin Zhang
drug target
Yinnan Chen b, Yanmin Zhang
The current research on anticancer drugs focuses on exploiting particular traits or hallmarks unique to cancer
cells. Telomerase, a special reverse transcriptase, has been recognized as a common factor in most tumor cells,
and in turn a distinctive characteristic with respect to non-malignant cells. This feature has made telomerase a
preferred target for anticancer drug development and cancer therapy. This review aims to analyze the pharmacological
function and mechanismand role of telomerase in oncogenesis; to provide fundamental knowledge for
research on the structure, function, and working mechanismof telomerase; to expound the role that telomerase
plays in the initiation and development of tumor and its relationship with tumor cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis,
and related pathway molecules; and to display potential targets of antitumor drug for inhibiting the expression,
reconstitution, and trafficking of the enzyme. We therefore summarize recent advances in potential
telomerase inhibitors for antitumor including natural products, synthetic smallmolecules, peptides and proteins,
which indicate that optimizing the delivery method and drug combination could be of help in a combinatorial
drug treatment for tumor. More extensive understanding of the structure, biogenesis, andmechanismof telomerase
will provide invaluable information for increasing the efficiency of rational antitumor drug design.
© 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved
cells. Telomerase, a special reverse transcriptase, has been recognized as a common factor in most tumor cells,
and in turn a distinctive characteristic with respect to non-malignant cells. This feature has made telomerase a
preferred target for anticancer drug development and cancer therapy. This review aims to analyze the pharmacological
function and mechanismand role of telomerase in oncogenesis; to provide fundamental knowledge for
research on the structure, function, and working mechanismof telomerase; to expound the role that telomerase
plays in the initiation and development of tumor and its relationship with tumor cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis,
and related pathway molecules; and to display potential targets of antitumor drug for inhibiting the expression,
reconstitution, and trafficking of the enzyme. We therefore summarize recent advances in potential
telomerase inhibitors for antitumor including natural products, synthetic smallmolecules, peptides and proteins,
which indicate that optimizing the delivery method and drug combination could be of help in a combinatorial
drug treatment for tumor. More extensive understanding of the structure, biogenesis, andmechanismof telomerase
will provide invaluable information for increasing the efficiency of rational antitumor drug design.
© 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved
