端粒酶研究的若干进展

端粒酶是一种ＲＮＡ依赖的ＤＮＡ聚合酶。它的生物学功能在于以自身的ＲＮＡ为模板，合成端粒序列，解决了线性染色体的末端复制问题，维持了染色体的稳定性。本文介绍一些新进展：如端粒酶蛋白的ｃＤＮＡ已被克隆；端粒酶活性检测中出现误差的可能原因；端粒酶活性的调控因子ＴＲＦ１及新发现的ＴＲＦ２；端粒酶活性同肿瘤诊断及预后间的关系；端粒酶的激活同肿瘤发生间的关系；反义核酸抑制端粒酶活性的可能性及其可能发生的问题等。

Progress in research on telomerase

Telomerase is an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase.The biological function oftelomerase is that it adds a specific repeat sequence to telomeres, using as a template a shortregion within its own RNA component.This de novo DNA addition has solved the end replicationproblem, and stabilized the chromosome.cDNAs of some telomerase proteins have been cloned.The probable reasons of error in the assay of telomerase activity have been analyzed. TRF1 andthe newly found TRF2 are regulation fartors of telomerase activity Telomerase activity can beused as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in many cancer types.Relationship of telomeraseactivity and tumorigenesis is discussed. Potential of suppressing telomerase activity by antisenseoligonucleotides and the problems initiated by it are also reviewed.