title: Identification of an RNA aptamer binding hTERT-derived peptide and inhibiting telomerase activity in MCF7 cells.
abstract: Human telomerase reverse transcriptase is an essential rate-limiting component of telomerase complex. hTERT protein in association with other proteins and the human telomerase RNA (hTR) shows telomerase activity, essential for maintaining genomic integrity in proliferating cells. hTERT binds hTR through a decapeptide located in the RID2 (RNA interactive domain 2) domain of N-terminal region. Since hTERT is essential for telomerase activity, inhibitors of hTERT are of great interest as potential anti-cancer agent. We have selected RNA aptamers against a synthetic peptide from the RID2 domain of hTERT by employing in vitro selection protocol (SELEX). The selected RNAs could bind the free peptide, as CD spectra suggested conformational change in aptamer upon RID2 binding. Extracts of cultured breast cancer cells (MCF7) expressing this aptamer showed lower telomerase activity as estimated by TRAP assay. hTERT-binding RNA aptamers hold promise as probable anti-cancer therapeutic agent.
authors.affiliation: Applied Molecular Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India.
authors.forename: Akhil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Varshney
authors.affiliation: Applied Molecular Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India.
authors.forename: Jyoti
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bala
authors.affiliation: Applied Molecular Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India.
authors.forename: Baby
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Santosh
authors.affiliation: Applied Molecular Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India.
authors.forename: Ashima
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhaskar
authors.affiliation: Applied Molecular Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India.|Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Institute of Cytogenetic and Preventive Oncology, Indian Council of Medical Research, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201301, India.
authors.forename: Suresh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Applied Molecular Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India. pkyadava1953@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Pramod K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Yadava
mesh_terms: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000072417:Protein Domains; D019098:Telomerase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009842:Oligopeptides; C509186:TERT protein, human; D019098:Telomerase
keywords: Cancer; RNA aptamer; SELEX; TRAP assay; Telomerase; Therapeutics