Telomerase is an enzyme that maintains telomeres in dividing cells using a template on its inherent RNA component.Additionally,the protein part TERT（Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase） has various non-canonical functi...Telomerase is an enzyme that maintains telomeres in dividing cells using a template on its inherent RNA component.Additionally,the protein part TERT（Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase） has various non-canonical functions.For example,it can localize to mitochondria under increased stress and protect cells in vitro from oxidative stress,DNA damage and apoptosis.Recently it has been demonstrated that TERT protein persists in adult neurons in the brain and data emerge suggesting that it might have a protective function in these post-mitotic cells as well.We have recently published that TERT protein accumulated in mitochondria from brain tissue of mice that have undergone short-term dietary restriction（DR） and rapamycin treatment.This localization correlated to lower levels of oxidative stress in these brain mitochondria.Since rapamycin treatment decreases mTOR signaling which is also thought to play an important role for the beneficial effects of DR,we conclude that the mTOR pathway might be involved in the TERT localization and its effects in brain mitochondria in vivo.These data are in line with previous findings from our group about increased mitochondrial localization of TERT in Alzheimer＇s disease（AD） brains and a protective function of TERT protein in neurons in vitro against pathological tau.展开更多
Most people associate the enzyme telomerase with its role in maintaining telomeres,which is its best-known canonical role.For this important function,two main components are required:the protein telomerase reve rse tr...Most people associate the enzyme telomerase with its role in maintaining telomeres,which is its best-known canonical role.For this important function,two main components are required:the protein telomerase reve rse transcriptase(TERT)and the telomerase RNA component.In addition,over the last decades,an ever-growing number of othe r,non-telomeric,non-canonical functions for the telomerase protein TERT has been established.These reach from tumor promotion to decreasing oxidative stress and apoptosis as well as activating autophagy.These functions are more and more recognized as being important in many tissues and physiological as well as pathological conditions.The role of telomerase in brain development and neuronal cells has been investigated for more than 20 years.However,the non-telomeric role in non-dividing neurons of the brain for telomerase and the TERT-protein has only recently been highlighted by extensive research.Moreover,these developments promoted the suggestion of a beneficial and protective role of TERT against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.This review summarizes the most important findings in the field of telomerase in neuro ns and gives an outlook onto possible therapeutic applications of boosting telomerase/TERT levels with telomerase activators to prevent or ameliorate various neurodegene rative diseases.展开更多
文摘Telomerase is an enzyme that maintains telomeres in dividing cells using a template on its inherent RNA component.Additionally,the protein part TERT（Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase） has various non-canonical functions.For example,it can localize to mitochondria under increased stress and protect cells in vitro from oxidative stress,DNA damage and apoptosis.Recently it has been demonstrated that TERT protein persists in adult neurons in the brain and data emerge suggesting that it might have a protective function in these post-mitotic cells as well.We have recently published that TERT protein accumulated in mitochondria from brain tissue of mice that have undergone short-term dietary restriction（DR） and rapamycin treatment.This localization correlated to lower levels of oxidative stress in these brain mitochondria.Since rapamycin treatment decreases mTOR signaling which is also thought to play an important role for the beneficial effects of DR,we conclude that the mTOR pathway might be involved in the TERT localization and its effects in brain mitochondria in vivo.These data are in line with previous findings from our group about increased mitochondrial localization of TERT in Alzheimer＇s disease（AD） brains and a protective function of TERT protein in neurons in vitro against pathological tau.
文摘Most people associate the enzyme telomerase with its role in maintaining telomeres,which is its best-known canonical role.For this important function,two main components are required:the protein telomerase reve rse transcriptase(TERT)and the telomerase RNA component.In addition,over the last decades,an ever-growing number of othe r,non-telomeric,non-canonical functions for the telomerase protein TERT has been established.These reach from tumor promotion to decreasing oxidative stress and apoptosis as well as activating autophagy.These functions are more and more recognized as being important in many tissues and physiological as well as pathological conditions.The role of telomerase in brain development and neuronal cells has been investigated for more than 20 years.However,the non-telomeric role in non-dividing neurons of the brain for telomerase and the TERT-protein has only recently been highlighted by extensive research.Moreover,these developments promoted the suggestion of a beneficial and protective role of TERT against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.This review summarizes the most important findings in the field of telomerase in neuro ns and gives an outlook onto possible therapeutic applications of boosting telomerase/TERT levels with telomerase activators to prevent or ameliorate various neurodegene rative diseases.
