Molecules and Cells

Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology (한국분자세포생물학회)
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Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Contains a BH3-Like Motif and Interacts with BCL-2 Family Members

  • Jin, Young (Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University) ;
  • You, Long (Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University) ;
  • Kim, Hye Jeong (Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University) ;
  • Lee, Han-Woong (Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University)
  • Received : 2018.05.13
  • Accepted : 2018.05.21
  • Published : 2018.07.31
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Abstract

Upregulation of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression is an important factor in the cellular survival and cancer. Although growing evidence suggests that hTERT inhibits cellular apoptosis by telomere-independent functions, the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. Here, we show that hTERT contains a BH3-like motif, a short peptide sequence found in BCL-2 family proteins, and interacts with anti-apoptotic BCL-2 family proteins MCL-1 and BCL-xL, suggesting a functional link between hTERT and the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. Additionally, we propose that hTERT can be categorized into the atypical BH3-only proteins that promote cellular survival, possibly due to the non-canonical interaction between hTERT and antiapoptotic proteins. Although the detailed mechanisms underlying the hTERT BH3-like motif functions and interactions between hTERT and BCL-2 family proteins have not been elucidated, this work proposes a possible connection between hTERT and BCL-2 family members and reconsiders the role of the BH3-like motif as an interaction motif.

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References

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