title: Cytoplasmic TERT Associates to RNA Granules in Fully Mature Neurons: Role in the Translational Control of the Cell Cycle Inhibitor p15INK4B.
abstract: The main role of Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT) is to protect telomere length from shortening during cell division. However, recent works have revealed the existence of a pool of TERT associated to mitochondria, where it plays a role in survival. We here show that in fully differentiated neurons the largest pool of cytoplasmic TERT associates to TIA1 positive RNA granules, where it binds the messenger RNA of the cyclin kinase inhibitor p15INK4B. Upon stress, p15INK4B and TERT dissociate and p15INK4B undergoes efficient translation, allowing its pro-survival function. These results unveil another mechanism implicated in the survival of fully differentiated neurons.
authors.affiliation: Center for Human Genetics, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iannilli
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zalfa
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gartner
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bagni
authors.forename: Carlos G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Dotti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D050762:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p15 / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D050762:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p15; D012313:RNA; D019098:Telomerase