Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel 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: A substantially non-invasive and efficient method for collecting cells from the internal organs of a subject is provided. In one embodiment, energy from an external energy source is applied to the subject that is sufficient to loosen the cells from an internal cellular surface of an internal organ so that at least a portion of the loosened cells are detached from the internal cellular surface or the organ. The detached cells are collected from the subject and can be analyzed for a disease state. The methods described herein provide methods for detecting of disease states before macroscopic evidence of the disease state that also facilitate inexpensive mass screening.

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

Abstract: Human gene GC6 is expressed more abundantly in senescent cells than young cells. Isolated, purified, and recombinant nucleic acids and proteins corresponding to the human GC6 gene and its mRNA and protein products, as well as peptides and antibodies corresponding to the GC6 protein can be used to identify senescent cells, distinguish between senescent and young cells, identify agents that alter senescent gene expression generally and GC6 expression specifically; such agents as well as GC6 gene and gene products and products corresponding thereto can be used to prevent and treat diseases and conditions relating to cell senescence.

Abstract: Method and compositions are provided for the determination of telomere length and telomerase activity, as well as the ability to increase or decrease telomerase activity in the treatment of proliferative diseases. Particularly, primers are elongated under conditions which minimize interference from other genomic sequences, so as to obtain accurate determinations of telomeric length or telomerase activity. In addition, compositions are provided for intracellular inhibition of telomerase activity and means are shown for slowing or reversing the loss of telomeric repeats in aging cells.

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: Telomerase reporter constructs suitable for use in reporting transcriptional activity of a mammalian telomerase gene transcription regulatory region contain a transcription regulatory region of a mammalian telomerase gene operably linked to a reporter polynucleotide sequence.

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: Recombinant polynucleotides have expression control sequences that have a senescence responsive element and a minimal promoter, and which are operatively linked to a heterologous nucleotide sequence. The molecules are useful for achieving high levels of expression of genes in senescent cells. Methods of inhibiting expression of genes in senescent cells also are provided.

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

Abstract: Telomerase activity in a sample can be measured using a two reaction protocol. The first reaction involves the formation of telomerase substrate extension products from a telomerase substrate. The second reaction involves replication of the telomerase substrate extension products and/or amplification of signal generated by a bound probe. The presence of telomerase activity in a human somatic tissue or cell sample is positively correlated with the presence of cancer and can be used to diagnose a disease or other conditions of medical interest, as well as the course of disease progression or remission in a patient.

Abstract: Inhibition of the enzyme poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase can delay the onset of senescence and inhibitors of the enzyme can be used to treat diseases caused or exacerbated by cellular senescence.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating cancer and other diseases in which inhibition of telomerase activity can ameliorate disease symptoms or prevent or treat the disease relate to compounds characterized by the following structure: ##STR1## and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts. Y is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur, sulfonyl, sulfinyl, and --NR.sub.7 --. R.sub.1 is --TR.sub.8, where T is --C(X.sub.1)-- or --SO.sub.2 --, and R.sub.8 is selected from the group consisting of --OR.sub.9, --NHNHSO.sub.2 R.sub.9, --NHNHC(X.sub.2)OR.sub.9, --NR.sub.9 R.sub.10, --NHNHC(X.sub.2)NR.sub.9 R.sub.10, --NHCR.sub.9 R.sub.10 C(X.sub.2)NR.sub.11 R.sub.12, --NHC(X.sub.2)NR.sub.9 R.sub.10, and the piperazinyl moiety shown below: ##STR2## where n is 0 or 1, and Q.sub.n, for n=1, is --SO.sub.2 --, --C(X.sub.2)-- or --C(X.sub.2)NR.sub.10 --. R.sub.2 -R.sub.

Abstract: Telomerase activity in a sample can be measured using a two reaction protocol. The first reaction involves the formation of telomerase substrate extension products from a telomerase substrate. The second reaction involves replication of the telomerase substrate extension products and/or amplification of signal generated by a bound probe. The presence of telomerase activity in a human somatic tissue or cell sample is positively correlated with the presence of cancer and can be used to diagnose a disease or other conditions of medical interest, as well as the course of disease progression or remission in a patient.

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: Methods of detecting the RNA component of telomerase, diagnosing cancer, and determining its prognosis using polynucleotides that hybridize to the RNA component of mammalian telomerase in a sample.

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

Abstract: Telomerase activity in a sample can be measured using a two reaction protocol involving telomerase substrate and primer extension steps. The presence of telomerase activity in a human somatic tissue or cell sample is positively correlated with the presence of cancer and can be used to diagnose the course of disease progression in a patient.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the measurement of telomere length have application in medical diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic procedures. The methods for measuring telomere length include primer extension-based methods and probe-based methods. The primer extension methods involve elongation of telomeric, linker, and/or subtelomeric based primers under conditions such that the telomere serves as a template for primer extension and that the resultant primer extension products can be compared to standards of known length to provide a measure of telomere length. The probe based methods allow for telomere length measurements using DNA from lysed or whole cells and involve hybridizing an excess of probe to all telomeric repeat sequences in the telomere, measuring the amount of bound probe, and correlating the amount of bound probe measured with telomere length.

Abstract: Method and compositions are provided for the determination of telomere length and telomerase activity, as well as the ability to increase or decrease telomerase activity in the treatment of proliferative diseases. Particularly, primers are elongated under conditions which minimize interference from other genomic sequences, so as to obtain accurate determinations of telomeric length or telomerase activity. In addition, compositions are provided for intracellular inhibition of telomerase activity and means are shown for slowing or reversing the loss of telomeric repeats in aging cells.