Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Contains a BH3-Like Motif and Interacts with BCL-2 Family Members.

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 mech

SUBMITTER: Jin Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6078858 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature