The intrabody targeting of hTERT attenuates the immortality of cancer cells.
hTERT (human telomerase reverse transcriptase) plays a key role in the process of cell immortalization. Overexpression of hTERT has been implicated in 85% of malignant tumors and offers a specific target for cancer therapy. In this paper, we describe an effective approach using a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) intrabody derived from monoclonal hybridoma directed against hTERT to attenuate the immortalization of human uterine cervix and hepatoma cells. The scFv we constructed had a high affinity to hTERT, and specifically neutralized over 70% of telomere synthesis activity, thereby inhibiting the viability and proliferation of the cancer cells. Our results indicate that this anti-hTERT intrabody is a promising tool to target hTERT and intervene in the immortalization process of cancer cells.
State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Fudan, PR China.
Xiangying
X
Zhu
Nan
N
Yang
Jianguo
J
Cai
Guimei
G
Yang
Shenghua
S
Liang
Daming
D
Ren
D017209:Apoptosis; D006367:HeLa Cells; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D057127:Single-Chain Antibodies / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019098:Telomerase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D057127:Single-Chain Antibodies; C509186:TERT protein, human; D019098:Telomerase