Abstract: This invention provides purified telomerase and methods of purifying it. The methods involve the use of several sequential steps, including the use of matrices that bind molecules bearing negative charges, matrices that bind molecules bearing positive charges, intermediate-selectivity matrices, methods that separate molecules based on their size, shape, or buoyant density, and by affinity purification.

Abstract: Thiazolidinedione compounds, compositions, and methods of inhibiting telomerase activity in vitro and treatment of telomerase mediated conditions or diseases ex vivo and in vivo are provided. The methods, compounds and compositions of the invention may be employed alone, or in combination with other pharmacologically active agents in the treatment of conditions or diseases mediated by telomerase activity, such as in the treatment of cancer. Also disclosed are novel methods for assaying or screening for inhibitors of telomerase activity.

Abstract: This invention provides purified telomerase and methods of purifying it. The methods involve the use of several sequential steps, including the use of matrices that bind molecules bearing negative charges, matrices that bind molecules bearing positive charges, intermediate-selectivity matrices, methods that separate molecules based on their size, shape, or buoyant density, and by affinity purification.

Abstract: It has been discovered that when pluripotent stem cells are cultured in the presence of a hepatocyte differentiation agent, a population of cells is derived that has a remarkably high proportion of cells with phenotypic characteristics of liver cells. In one example, human embryonic stem cells are allowed to form embryoid bodies, and then combined with the differentiation agent n-butyrate, optionally supplemented with maturation factors. In another example, n-butyrate is added to human embryonic stem cells in feeder-free culture. Either way, a remarkably uniform cell population is obtained, which is predominated by cells with morphological features of hepatocytes, expressing surface markers characteristic of hepatocytes, and having enzymatic and biosynthetic activity important for liver function.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods related to human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTRT), the catalytic protein subunit of human telomerase. The polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of human diseases, for changing the proliferative capacity of cells and organisms, and for identification and screening of compounds and treatments useful for treatment of diseases such as cancers.

Abstract: It has been discovered that when pluripotent stem cells are cultured in the presence of a hepatocyte differentiation agent, a population of cells is derived that has a remarkably high proportion of cells with phenotypic characteristics of liver cells. In one example, human embryonic stem cells are allowed to form embryoid bodies, and then combined with the differentiation agent n-butyrate, optionally supplemented with maturation factors. In another example, n-butyrate is added to human embryonic stem cells in feeder-free culture. Either way, a remarkably uniform cell population is obtained, which is predominated by cells with morphological features of hepatocytes, expressing surface markers characteristic of hepatocytes, and having enzymatic and biosynthetic activity important for liver function.

Abstract: Thiazolidinedione compounds, compositions, and methods of inhibiting telomerase activity in vitro and treatment of telomerase mediated conditions or diseases ex vivo and in vivo are provided. The methods, compounds and compositions of the invention may be employed alone, or in combination with other pharmacologically active agents in the treatment of conditions or diseases mediated by telomerase activity, such as in the treatment of cancer. Also disclosed are methods for assaying or screening for inhibitors of telomerase activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides TRT antisense oligonucleotides, methods of detecting TRT, methods of diagnosing telomerase-related conditions, methods of diagnosing and providing a prognosis for cancer, and methods of treating telomerase-related conditions, including cancer.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of activating a T lymphocyte by contacting the T lymphocyte with a dendritic cell (DC) that presents a telomerase reverse transcriptase (TRT) peptide in the context of a MHC class I or MHC class II molecule. The DC may be pulsed with a TRT polypeptide or may comprise a recombinant polynucleotide encoding a TRT such as hTRT. The invention also provides DCs comprising a recombinant TRT polynucleotide. The methods and compositions of the invention are used in prevention and treatment of cancers and other cell proliferation diseases or conditions.

Abstract: Methods and kits are provided for diagnosis of specific cancerous conditions. The invention features a method for diagnosis of a condition in a patient associated with an elevated level of telomerase activity within a cell. The method involves determining the presence or amount of telomerase within the cells in the patient, e.g. by the use of the polymerase chain reaction. In one embodiment of the invention, the condition associated with elevated telomerase activity is chosen from prostate cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, renal cancer, ovarian/cervical cancer, lung cancer, and leukemia. The invention allows cancer to be detected even in tissues and cells which are not positive by pathology.

Abstract: 5-(3-Isatinylidinyl)thiazolidineones and 3-(thiazolidinon-5-yl)indoles compounds, compositions, and methods of inhibiting telomerase activity in vitro and treatment of telomerase mediated conditions or diseases ex vivo and in vivo are provided. The methods, compounds and compositions of the invention may be employed alone, or in combination with other pharmacologically active agents in the treatment of conditions or diseases mediated by telomerase activity, such as in the treatment of cancer. Also disclosed are novel methods for assaying or screening for inhibitors of telomerase activity.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods related to human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTRT), the catalytic protein subunit of human telomerase. Catalytically active human telomerase reverse transcriptase variants comprising deletions or other mutations are provided.

Abstract: Nucleic acids comprising the RNA component of a mammalian telomerase are useful as pharmaceutical, therapeutic, and diagnostic reagents.

Abstract: Purified and recombinant proteins TPC2 and TPC3 and recombinant or synthetic oligonucleotides corresponding to those proteins or fragments thereof can be used to detect regulators of telomere length and telomerase activity in mammalian cells and for a variety of related diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Abstract: The invention provides DNA primase assays suitable for identifying DN primase modulating agents, methods of modulating DNA primase activity, compounds for modulating DNA primase activity, and compositions which modulate DNA primase.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to telomerase nucleic acids and amino acids. In particular, the present invention is directed to nucleic acid and amino acid sequences encoding various telomerase protein subunits and motifs, including the 123 kDa and 43 kDa telomerase protein subunits of Euplotes aediculatus, and related sequences from Schizosaccharomyces, Saccharomyces sequences, and human telomerase. The present invention is also directed to polypeptides comprising these telomerase protein subunits, as well as functional polypeptides and ribonucleoproteins that contain these subunits.

Abstract: This invention provides purified human telomerase and methods of purifying it. The methods involve the use of several sequential steps, including the use of a first matrix that binds molecules bearing negative charges, a matrix that binds molecules bearing positive charges, a second matrix that binds molecules bearing negative charges, an affinity purification step and a matrix that separates molecules according to their size.

Abstract: This invention is directed to compositions enriched for telomerase and methods of preparing the same.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods related to telomerase reverse transcriptase, the catalytic protein subunit of human telomerase. The polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of human diseases, for changing the proliferative capacity of cells and organisms, and for identification and screening of compounds and treatments useful for treatment of diseases such as cancers.

Abstract: The invention provides DNA primase assays suitable for identifying DNA primase modulating agents, methods of modulating DNA primase activity and compositions which modulate DNA primase.