Telomerase compositions and methods
AssigneeArch Development Corporation
InventorsDaniel E. Gottschling, Miriam S. Singer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed are various methods, compositions and screening assays connected with telomerase, including genes encoding the template RNA of S. cerevisiae telomerase and various telomerase-associated polypeptides.
Claims10
A method of using a DNA segment that comprises an isolated gene associated with non-ciliate telomerase, wherein said DNA segment is characterized as encoding a polypeptide that includes a contiguous amino acid sequence of at least about 17 amino acids from SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:22 or SEQ ID NO:24, or is characterized as specifically hybridizing to the nucleic acid segment of SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:31 or SEQ ID NO:23, or the complement thereof, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) preparing a recombinant vector in which a non-ciliate telomerase-associated gene is positioned under the control of a promoter;
- (b) introducing said recombinant vector into a recombinant host cell;
- (c) culturing the recombinant host cell under conditions effective to allow expression of the telomerase-associated gene;
- and
- (d) collecting the expressed gene product.
A method for modifying the telomerase activity of a cell, comprising contacting a telomerase-containing cell with an amount of a composition effective to modify telomerase activity, said composition comprising:
- (a) an isolated RNA segment of from 25 to about 1,500 nucleotides in length that comprises a non-ciliate telomerase RNA template, the RNA segment specifically hybridizing to the nucleic acid segment of SEQ ID NO:1 or the complement thereof under high stringency hybridization conditions;
- or
- (b) an isolated telomerase-associated protein or polypeptide that includes a contiguous amino acid sequence of at least about twelve amino acids from SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:22 or SEQ ID NO:24,
- and assaying said cell for telomerase activity.
A method for modifying the viability a cell with increased age, comprising contacting a telomerase-containing cell with an amount of a composition effective to modify telomerase activity, said composition comprising:
- (a) an isolated RNA segment of from 25 to about 1,500 nucleotides in length that comprises a non-ciliate telomerase RNA template, the RNA segment specifically hybridizing to the nucleic acid segment of SEQ ID NO:1 or the complement thereof under high stringency hybridization conditions;
- or
- (b) an isolated telomerase-associated protein or polypeptide that includes a contiguous amino acid sequence of at least about twelve amino acids from SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:22 or SEQ ID NO:24.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.