Longevity & AgingThree RNA Proteins Found to Control How Telomerase Reaches and Maintains Chromosome Ends
Researchers at the Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Sydney, have identified three RNA/DNA binding proteins — NONO, SFPQ, and PSPC1 — as critical regulators of telomerase trafficking. These proteins, collectively called the DBHS family, physically bind to the RNA component of telomerase (hTR) and help escort the enzyme from nuclear Cajal bodies to chromosome ends during cell division. When these proteins are depleted, telomerase gets stuck in Cajal bodies and fails to reach telomeres, ultimately causing progressive telomere shortening across multiple cancer cell lines. The findings add a new layer to our understanding of how telomere length is maintained and open potential avenues for targeting telomerase regulation in aging and cancer.
