Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Petr Fajkus, Vratislav Peska, Jiri Fajkus, Eva Sykorova
Summary: This study examined the presence and functional status of TERT variants in allotetraploid Nicotiana species of diverse evolutionary ages, as well as in other diploid and polyploid plant species. Results showed various patterns of retention or loss of parental TERT variants and divergence in their functions, with all identified TERT variants confirmed to be expressed. Synteny analyses revealed the conservation and translocation of TERT genes in representative plant genomes, with translocation becoming fixed in target loci in various diploid and polyploid species.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Jinglong Zhang, Fan Zhang, Kenneth I. Porter, Panshak P. Dakup, Shuwen Wang, Gavin P. Robertson, Shobhan Gaddameedhi, Jiyue Zhu
Summary: Telomerase activation is crucial for melanomagenesis, but is hindered by telomere dysfunction in mice. The study found that telomere dysfunction delays melanoma development and leads to DNA damage and genomic instability.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Piotr Macek, Rafal Poreba, Pawel Gac, Katarzyna Bogunia-Kubik, Marta Dratwa, Mieszko Wieckiewicz, Anna Wojakowska, Monika Michalek-Zrabkowska, Grzegorz Mazur, Helena Martynowicz
Summary: This study found no relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and TERT SNPs. However, SNPs of the TERT gene were found to be associated with hypertension and diabetes prevalence.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Yanxiu Li, Iokfai Cheang, Zhongwen Zhang, Wenming Yao, Yanli Zhou, Haifeng Zhang, Yun Liu, Xiangrong Zuo, Xinli Li, Quan Cao
Summary: This study found that SNPs of TERC and TERT genes are associated with the prognosis of AHF, with mutant alleles being related to long-term mortality. Significant differences were observed in specific haplotypes, with CCAC being a risk factor and GTGT being a protective factor.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Katherine M. D'Amico-Willman, Elizabeth S. Anderson, Thomas M. Gradziel, Jonathan Fresnedo-Ramirez
Summary: This study found a significant association between almond age, relative telomere length, and TERT expression, indicating that telomeres shorten and TERT expression decreases as almonds age. These findings contribute to understanding perennial plant aging and provide opportunities for addressing age-related disorders in almond breeding and nursery propagation.
Article
Oncology
Shunichiro Miki, Tomoyuki Koga, Andrew M. Mckinney, Alison D. Parisian, Takahiro Tadokoro, Raghavendra Vadla, Martin Masala, Robert F. Hevner, Joseph F. Costello, Frank Furnari
Summary: The researchers established a model to study the role of heterozygous TERT promoter mutations (TPMs) in glioblastoma initiation. They found that the mutation enhanced tumorigenesis and maintained short telomeres, providing insights into TERT promoter-specific vulnerabilities.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Cleandra Gregorio, Shefali Thakur, Raquel Camara Rivero, Simone Marcia dos Santos Machado, Cyrille Cuenin, Christine Carreira, Valerie White, Ian A. Cree, Katarina Vukojevic, Merica Glavina Durdov, Alessandro Bersch Osvaldt, Patricia Ashton-Prolla, Zdenko Herceg, Fazlur Rahman Talukdar
Summary: This study found that periampullary carcinoma (PAC) tissues have shorter telomeres, lower TERT protein expression, and DNA hypermethylation in the TERT promoter. These findings are important for understanding the molecular pathology of PAC and developing therapeutic strategies.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marta Dratwa, Barbara Wysoczanska, Wioletta Brankiewicz, Martyna Stachowicz-Suhs, Joanna Wietrzyk, Rafal Matkowski, Marcin Ekiert, Jolanta Szelachowska, Adam Maciejczyk, Mariusz Szajewski, Maciej Baginski, Katarzyna Bogunia-Kubik
Summary: This study investigated the molecular mechanisms of TERT upregulation in breast cancer, including genetic variability and telomere length, as well as the expression of TERT, MYC, TP53, and SP1 genes in BC patients and BC organoids. Results showed correlations between TERT genotypes, TP53 expression, and telomere length, suggesting TERT genetic variability may serve as potential biomarkers for breast cancer.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
Fatemeh Zahra Darvishi, Mostafa Saadat
Summary: This study found that the mRNA levels of hTERT and TERF2 in cells treated with morphine decrease with increasing exposure time, but this alteration is reversible when morphine is removed from the culture medium. Additionally, there was no reduction in the relative expression of hTERT and TERF2 in cells co-treated with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and morphine.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Sarah W. Cai, Titia de Lange
Summary: In this review, the authors discuss the role of the CST-Polα/Primase complex in telomere length regulation. They highlight that this complex not only functions in strand synthesis but also controls telomerase to maintain telomere length. Additionally, they emphasize the importance of this complex in preventing telomeric disorders by replenishing lost sequences and determining telomere length.
GENES & DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Billy Michael Chelliah Jebaraj, Stephan Stilgenbauer
Summary: Telomeres play a crucial role in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), with their dysfunction shaping the disease progression. Members of the shelterin complex and TERT activation are closely associated with CLL cell survival and proliferation.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Logan McRae, Aleksandra Beric, Gavin C. Conant
Summary: This study models the evolution of four genomes from the Solanaceae, a group of flowering plants. The most preserved subgenome in these plants descends from one of the original tetraploid progenitors, which is different from other plants. Although repetitive elements (REs) play a role in driving gene losses, their turnover rate is too fast to leave a signal of their condition at the time of paleopolyploidy in the modern genomes.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Daniel I. Sullivan, Fiona M. Bello, Agustin Gil Silva, Kevin M. Redding, Luca Giordano, Angela M. Hinchie, Kelly E. Loughridge, Ana L. Mora, Melanie Konigshoff, Brett A. Kaufman, Michael J. Jurczak, Jonathan K. Alder
Summary: Mitochondria play important roles in cellular metabolism and signaling. Defects in mitochondria caused by genetic or acquired factors can lead to various pathologies, including premature cellular senescence. In this study, we investigated the effects of dysfunctional telomeres on mitochondrial biogenesis and function during senescence. Our results showed that senescent cells had increased mitochondrial respiratory capacity and volume. Even in vivo, hepatocytes with dysfunctional telomeres maintained their mitochondrial respiratory capacity. The upregulation of genes related to mitochondria was observed during senescence in fibroblasts and hepatocytes. These findings suggest that mitochondrial function and activity are preserved in telomere dysfunction-induced senescence.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Neeraj Agarwal, Qiong Zhou, Deepak Arya, Sebastien Rinaldetti, Jason Duex, Daniel LaBarbera, Dan Theodorescu
Summary: This study reveals a signaling pathway that explains the upregulated expression of hTERT caused by the -124 hTERT promoter mutation in bladder cancer. Through high-content screening drug discovery using a GFP mutated cell line, a novel drug inhibitor AST-487 was identified, which can inhibit both wild-type and mutant-driven hTERT expression. The study also identifies the RET kinase pathway as a new regulator of mutant hTERT promoter-driven transcription.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Semih Can Akincilar, Claire Hian Tzer Chan, Qin Feng Ng, Kerem Fidan, Vinay Tergaonkar
Summary: Telomerase activation is a common feature in cancer, but it does not directly correlate with telomere length. Aberrant expression of shelterin proteins and their release from shortened telomeres can further promote cancer through non-canonical mechanisms.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jana Fulneckova, Ladislav Dokladal, Karolina Kolarova, Martina Nespor Dadejova, Klara Prochazkova, Sabina Gomelska, Martin Sivcak, Katerina Adamusova, Martin Lycka, Vratislav Peska, Martina Dvorackova, Eva Sykorova
Summary: This study explores the interaction network of Arabidopsis telomerase proteins with nucleosome assembly proteins and the minichromosome maintenance system, providing new insights into telomerase functions related to telomere chromatin assembly and replication. By investigating 176 candidate proteins, numerous interactions during telomerase biogenesis were identified, shedding light on the complex network of telomerase interactions. Additionally, the study identified protein domains responsible for binding and analyzed the subcellular localization of these interactions, offering a comprehensive view of telomerase contacts with multiprotein complexes involved in chromatin remodeling and cell differentiation pathways.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Leon P. Jenner, Vratislav Peska, Jana Fulneckova, Eva Sykorova
Summary: Telomeres are essential structures in most eukaryotes formed from satellite DNA repeats at the ends of chromosomes. The role of satellite DNA repeat sequences in the eukaryotic cell remains enigmatic, with ongoing research needed to fully understand their biological function, especially in non-model organisms. This review aims to inspire and facilitate new research into telomeres and satellites, emphasizing accessible experimental and in silico methods, using examples from plants and insects to expand beyond traditional human and yeast models.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Petr Fajkus, Matej Adamik, Andrew D. L. Nelson, Agata M. Kilar, Michal Franek, Michal Bubenik, Radmila Capkova Frydrychova, Alena Votavova, Eva Sykorova, Jiri Fajkus, Vratislav Peska
Summary: Unlike the catalytic subunit of telomerase, the RNA subunit (TR) shows significant differences in size, sequence and biogenesis across eukaryotes. Previous views assumed a common origin of TRs transcribed with RNA polymerase II in Opisthokonta and Trypanosomida, and TRs transcribed with RNA polymerase III in TSAR and Archaeplastida. However, new findings from studying Hymenoptera TRs challenge this assumption and suggest an evolutionary switch in TR type and biogenesis that is associated with the divergence of Arthropods.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Klara Prikrylova Konecna, Agata Kilar, Petra Kovacikova, Jiri Fajkus, Eva Sykorova, Miloslava Fojtova
Summary: This study investigates the interaction between ARM and telomerase and explores the cellular functions of ARM. The results show that ARM is involved in crucial cellular processes and has a dominant effect. Additionally, ARM is implicated in circadian rhythms and responses to drugs and stimuli.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Martin Lycka, Milos Bartak, Ondrej Helia, Stanislav Kopriva, Dana Moravcova, Josef Hajek, Lukas Fojt, Richard Cmelik, Jiri Fajkus, Miloslava Fojtova
Summary: Hydroponic experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of prolonged sulfate limitation and Cd exposure on Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana tabacum. Both species showed adverse effects on morphology, photosynthetic and biochemical parameters, and nutritional status under low sulfate treatments and Cd stress. The responses to low sulfate supply, Cd exposure, or a combination of both factors were species-specific, and Cd exposure had opposing effects on the levels of certain elements in the roots.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Miloslav Brejcha, Daniela Prusakova, Michala Sabova, Vratislav Peska, Jan Cerny, Dalibor Kodrik, Barbora Konopova, Radmila Capkova Frydrychova
Summary: The structure and gene expression of fat body cells in winter and summer worker bees differ, likely due to variations in flight intensity and heat production. Winter bees show a higher frequency of lysosomes, autophagic processes, and lipofuscin particles.
JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Eva Dvorak Tomastikova, Fen Yang, Kristina Mlynarova, Said Hafidh, Sarka Schorova, Alzbeta Kusova, Marketa Pernisova, Tereza Prerovska, Bozena Klodova, David Honys, Jiri Fajkus, Ales Pecinka, Petra Prochazkova Schrumpfova
Summary: RUVBL1 and RUVBL2 are crucial for the proper development of male and female gametophytes in Arabidopsis. Mutations in these genes result in abnormal embryo sac structure and nuclear numbers. The expression of these proteins is observed in pollen grains, embryo sac, and tapetum cells, playing important roles in reproductive development.
Letter
Microbiology
Filip Cervenak, Regina Sepsiova, Vratislav Peska, Jozef Nosek, Lubomir Tomaska
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Michal Zavodnik, Petr Fajkus, Michal Franek, David Kopecky, Sonia Garcia, Steven Dodsworth, Andres Orejuela, Agata Kilar, Jiri Ptacek, Martin Matl, Anna Hyskova, Jiri Fajkus, Vratislav Peska
Summary: Telomerase, telomeric DNA, and associated proteins form a complex and conserved mechanism that maintains genome integrity by protecting chromosome ends. Evolutionary changes in telomere maintenance have given rise to species with unusual telomeric DNA sequences and telomerase components. Telomerase RNA (TR) plays a central role in telomere maintenance, and mutations in TR can disrupt telomere DNA synthesis and recognition by telomere proteins. Through bioinformatic and experimental analyses, this study investigates the evolutionary changes in TR that underlie telomere transitions in plants, and identifies telomere transitions corresponding to TR paralogs with diverse template regions.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Martin Lycka, Michal Bubenik, Michal Zavodnik, Vratislav Peska, Petr Fajkus, Martin Demko, Jiri Fajkus, Miloslava Fojtova
Summary: Discoveries in the past decade have shown the unexpected diversity of telomere DNA motifs in nature. However, currently available resources such as the Telomerase database and Plant rDNA database only contain fragments of relevant literature and have limited updates. To address this, we created TeloBase, a comprehensive database of telomere motif diversity, by gathering data from literature screenings and publicly available NGS data. TeloBase includes a taxonomy system and graphical visualization tools for studying telomere DNA evolutionary dynamics.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Gianluca Teano, Lorenzo Concia, Lea Wolff, Leopold Carron, Ivona Biocanin, Katerina Adamusova, Miloslava Fojtova, Michael Bourge, Amira Kramdi, Vincent Colot, Ueli Grossniklaus, Chris Bowler, Celia Baroux, Alessandra Carbone, Aline Probst, Petra Prochazkova Schrumpfova, Jiri Fajkus, Simon Amiard, Stefan Grob, Clara Bourbousse, Fredy Barneche
Summary: A study in Arabidopsis reveals the role of linker histone H1 in nucleosome organization and its functional interactions with chromatin factors. It shows that H1 contributes to chromatin condensation and H3K27me3 deposition at Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) target genes, while selectively preventing H3K27me3 accumulation at telomeres and large pericentromeric interstitial telomeric repeat (ITR) domains by restricting DNA accessibility to Telomere Repeat Binding (TRB) proteins. This study provides insights into the mechanistic framework of how H1 safeguards nucleus architecture.
