Telomerase: going beyond the ends.
To date, the major function attributed to telomerase has been the elongation of telomeres. Recent studies have assigned new biochemical properties to telomerase by implicating a role in tumor metastasis and cellular differentiation by virtue of its modulation of novel cell signaling pathways such as glycolysis. In this Perspective we will discuss these recent results that have provided additional insight into the involvement of telomerase in cellular processes other than telomere maintenance at chromosome ends.
De Semir
David
D
Auerback Melanoma Research Laboratory, Cutaneous Oncology Program, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Dermatology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94115, USA.
Nosrati
Mehdi
M
Li
Shang
S
Kashani-Sabet
Mohammed
M
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000235:genetics; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
D019098:Telomerase