Telomerase RNA-based aptamers restore defective myelopoiesis in congenital neutropenic syndromes.

ABSTRACT: Telomerase RNA (TERC) has a noncanonical function in myelopoiesis binding to a consensus DNA binding sequence and attracting RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II), thus facilitating myeloid gene expression. The CR4/CR5 domain of TERC is known to play this role, since a mutation of this domain found in dyskeratosis congenita (DC) patients decreases its affinity for RNA Pol II, impairing its myelopoietic activity as a result. In this study, we report that two aptamers, short single-stranded oligonucleotides, based on the CR4/CR5 domain were able to increase myelopoiesis without affecting erythropoiesis in zebrafish. Mechanistically, the aptamers functioned as full terc; that is, they increased the expression of master myeloid genes, independently of endogenous terc, by interacting with RNA Pol II a

SUBMITTER: Martinez-Balsalobre E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10516865 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature