Research progress on mitochondrial translocation of human telomerase reverse transcriptase

Abstract

Telomerase reverse transcriptase is a subunit of telomerase, which plays an important role in activating telomerase and regulating cell cycle. Human telomerase reverse transcriptase(hTERT) is mainly expressed in germ cells, embryonic stem cells and tumor cells, only a few expressed in normal cell. hTERT is mainly located in nucleus and also distributed in mitochondria. hTERT migration from nucleus into mitochondria is called the mitochondrial translocation of hTERT. Mitochondrial translocation of hTERT functions in the process of apoptosis, immortalization and drug resistance. Control of hTERT is a potential breakthrough in the treatment of diseases.

Keywords

• human telomerase reverse transciptase|mitochondrial translocation|cell apoptosis