title: Real-time detection of telomerase activity using the exponential isothermal amplification of telomere repeat assay.
abstract: As crucial pieces in the puzzle of cancer and human aging, telomeres and telomerase are indispensable in modern biology. Here we describe a novel exponential isothermal amplification of telomere repeat (EXPIATR) assay--a sensitive, simple, and reliable in vitro method for measuring telomerase activity in cell extracts. Through a strategically designed path of nucleic acid isothermal amplifications, EXPIATR abandons the expensive thermal cycling protocol and achieves ultrafast detection: telomerase activity equivalent to a single HeLa cancer cell can be detected in ∼25 min.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, 929 East 57th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States.
authors.forename: Leilei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Yossi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Weizmann
mesh_terms: D057075:Enzyme Assays; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020079:Terminal Repeat Sequences / Q000235:genetics*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D019098:Telomerase