Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) (TERT)

Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is the catalytic subunit of the telomerase enzyme complex, a specialized ribonucleoprotein responsible for adding telomeric DNA repeats (TTAGGG) to the 3' ends of chromosomes. In most human somatic cells, TERT expression is transcriptionally silenced, leading to progressive telomere shortening, cellular senescence, and apoptosis (PubMed: 25404149). However, TERT is pathologically reactivated or overexpressed in approximately 85-90% of all human cancers, providing the replicative immortality necessary for tumor progression (UniProt: O14746). Conversely, loss-of-function mutations in TERT lead to 'telomeropathies' characterized by premature aging of high-turnover tissues, such as bone marrow failure and pulmonary fibrosis (PubMed: 28410991). From a therapeutic perspective, TERT is a major target for oncology, with drugs like Imetelstat acting as competitive inhibitors of the telomerase RNA template to induce telomere attrition and cancer cell death. Additionally, TERT-derived peptides are used in cancer vaccines (e.g., GV1001) to elicit a T-cell-mediated immune response against malignant cells (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00063232). While 'Telomere length regulation' describes the broader biological process involving TERT, the shelterin complex, and TERC, TERT itself remains the primary druggable enzymatic component within this pathway. Note: The target name provided in the query is categorized as 'incorrect' because it refers to a biological process rather than a specific molecular entity.

Other names

hTERTTelomerase catalytic subunitTP2EST2TCS1Telomerase

Competitive inhibition of the telomerase RNA template (TERC) to prevent DNA synthesis; catalytic inhibition of the reverse transcriptase domain; telomerase-targeted immunotherapy.