Cited by 3,400Telomeres, Telomerase, and SenescenceGenetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model OrganismsChromosomal and Genetic Variations

Identification of a specific telomere terminal transferase activity in tetrahymena extracts

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Greider, Carol W., Blackburn, Elizabeth H.·1985·Cell

Abstract

We have found a novel activity in Tetrahymena cell free extracts that adds tandem TTGGGG repeats onto synthetic telomere primers. The single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides (TTGGGG)4 and TGTGTGGGTGTGTGGGTGTGTGGG, consisting of the Tetrahymena and yeast telomeric sequences respectively, each functioned as primers for elongation, while (CCCCAA)4 and two nontelomeric sequence DNA oligomers did not. Efficient synthesis of the TTGGGG repeats depended only on addition of micromolar concentrations of oligomer primer, dGTP, and dTTP to the extract. The activity was sensitive to heat and proteinase K treatment. The repeat addition was independent of both endogenous Tetrahymena DNA and the endogenous alpha-type DNA polymerase; and a greater elongation activity was present during macronuclear development, when a large number of telomeres are formed and replicated, than during vegetative cell growth. We propose that the novel telomere terminal transferase is involved in the addition of telomeric repeats necessary for the replication of chromosome ends in eukaryotes.

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Crossref · 10.1016/0092-8674(85)90170-9

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  • Telomerase was discovered by Carol Greider and Elizabeth Blackburn.

    “Such an enzymatic activity was soon discovered by Carol Greider and Elizabeth Blackburn and was named telomerase 50”

    From The common biology of cancer and ageing (2007) · cites this paper as [50]

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Authors
Greider, C. W., & Blackburn, E. H.
Affiliations
University of California, Berkeley (US)
Venue
Cell
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1985-12
Volume
43
Issue
2
Pages
405-413
ISSN
0092-8674 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2122740168
Cited by
3,400
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 45 · 2025: 83 · 2024: 87 · 2023: 110 · 2022: 98 · 2021: 142 · 2020: 112 · 2019: 127 · 2018: 110 · 2017: 126 · 2016: 116 · 2015: 128 · 2014: 139 · 2013: 124 · 2012: 114
FWCI
21.82
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (GM 26259)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Telomeres, Telomerase, and Senescence
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Aging › Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
Keywords
Tetrahymena, macronuclear development, telomere replication, proteinase K sensitivity, heat sensitivity
MeSH terms
Animals, Base Sequence, Chromosomes, DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase, DNA Nucleotidyltransferases, DNA Polymerase II, DNA Replication, Models, Genetic, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Templates, Genetic, Tetrahymena

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