Pathway
Telomerase (TERT / TERC)
Last updated Sun May 17 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
What it is
Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein with two essential components:
- TERT — the catalytic reverse-transcriptase protein.
- TERC — the template RNA used to add TTAGGG repeats to chromosome ends.
Plus accessory proteins (dyskerin, TCAB1, others).
Why it matters
Telomerase counteracts replicative telomere shortening (Telomere attrition). It is active in germ-line, stem cells, and ~90% of cancers, and largely silenced in adult somatic cells.
Therapeutic interest
- AAV-TERT gene therapy extended mouse lifespan when delivered to old mice (~24% median lifespan extension) without raising cancer incidence in the original studies.
- TA-65 (a cycloastragenol-based supplement) modestly activates telomerase but has weak healthspan data in humans.
- Telomerase activation in cancer is a known oncogenic feature; any long-term activation strategy must address cancer risk.
The cancer trade-off
Most cancers reactivate telomerase to escape replicative limits. Whole-body telomerase activation in adults is therefore approached cautiously.
Related entries
References
- Bernardes de Jesus, B. et al. Telomerase gene therapy in adult and old mice delays aging and increases longevity. EMBO Mol. Med. 4, 691–704 (2012).