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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Saeed Ahmed, Dr Joao Passos, Matthew Birket, Dr Heiko Peters, Professor Mark Birch-MachinORCiD, Professor Thomas von Zglinicki, Dr Gabriele Saretzki
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Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein that counteracts telomere shortening and can immortalise human cells. There is also evidence for a telomere-independent survival function of telomerase. However, its mechanism is not understood. We show here that TERT, the catalytic subunit of human telomerase, protects human fibroblasts against oxidative stress. While TERT maintains telomere length under standard conditions, telomeres under increased stress shorten as fast as in cells without active telomerase. This is because TERT is reversibly excluded from the nucleus under stress in a dose- and tim-dependent manner. Extranuclear telomerase colocalises with mitochondria. In TERT-overexpressing cells, mtDNA is protected, mitochondrial membrane potential is increased and mitochondrial superoxide production and cell peroxide levels are decreased, all indicating improved mitochondrial function and diminished retrograde response. We propose protection of mitochondria under mild stress as a novel function of TERT.
Author(s): Ahmed S, Passos JF, Birket MJ, Beckmann T, Brings S, Peters HH, Birch-Machin MA, von Zglinicki TW, Saretzki GC
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Cell Science
Year: 2008
Volume: 121
Issue: 7
Pages: 1046-1053
ISSN (print): 0021-9533
ISSN (electronic): 1477-9137
Publisher: The Company of Biologists Ltd.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jcs.019372
DOI: 10.1242/jcs.019372
PubMed id: 18334557
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