O14746

TERT also known as Telomerase, TRT is a ribonucleoprotein polymerase that maintains telomere ends by addition of the telomere repeat TTAGGG. TERT plays a crucial role in maintaining telomere length by adding telomeric repeat sequences to the ends of chromosomes, which is vital for cellular longevity and stability. In most human somatic cells, telomerase activity is low or absent, leading to progressive telomere shortening with each cell division, a process associated with aging and cellular senescence. However, TERT is often reactivated in immortalized cells and various human tumors, contributing to unchecked proliferation. The interaction of TERT with telomerase RNA is essential for enzymatic function, and TERT mRNA expression levels correlate with telomerase activity across different cell lines, making TERT a significant marker in cancer research and potential therapeutic target.