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: Methods and compositions are provided for modulating, and generally upregulating, the expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) by blocking repression of TERT transcription, e.g., by inhibiting binding of repressor factor to a Site C repressor binding site located in the TERT minimal promoter. The subject methods and compositions find use in a variety of different applications, including the immortalization of cells, the production of reagents for use in life science research, therapeutic applications; therapeutic agent screening applications; and the like. In further describing the subject invention, the methods and compositions of the invention are described first in greater detail, followed by a review of the various applications in which the subject invention finds use.

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

Abstract: Methods and compositions for use in selectively expressing a protein in a telomerase expressing cell are provided. In the subject methods, an expression cassette comprising a Site C repressor site and a coding sequence for the protein is introduced into the target telomerase expressing cell, e.g., by administering the expression cassette to a host that includes the target cell. The protein may be a therapeutic or diagnostic protein. The subject methods find use in a variety of different applications, and are particularly suited for use in diagnostic and therapeutic applications, e.g., of cellular proliferative disease conditions.

Abstract: Nucleic acid compositions comprising a region and a TERT minimal promoter activator binding site that acts to activate transcription of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) coding sequence, as well as vectors and constructs including the same, are provided. Also provided are methods of modulating, e.g., inhibiting, the TERT transcription activation activity of the subject TERT activator binding site regions in order to regulate, e.g., repress, telomerase expression, which methods find use in a variety of different applications, including the therapeutic applications and the like. In addition, methods of screening for agents that modulate the TERT transcription activating activity of the subject TERT activator sites are provided. The subject invention finds use in, among other applications, the regulation of TERT expression.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to cells comprising a recombinant polynucleotide sequence that encodes a telomerase reverse transcriptase protein, variant, or fragment having telomerase catalytic activity when complexed with a telomerase RNA.

Abstract: Telomerase repressor proteins and nucleic acid compositions encoding the same are provided. The subject repressor proteins bind to a repressor site in the TERT minimal promoter, e.g., a Site C site, and thereby inhibit TERT expression. Also provided are methods of modulating, e.g., inhibiting or enhancing, TERT expression. The subject invention finds use in a variety of different applications, including therapeutic and therapeutic agent screening applications.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising a telomerase reverse transcriptase polypeptide or a polypeptide homologous to a telomerase reverse transcriptase. The present invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising a polynucleotide encoding either of the aforesaid polypeptides. The present invention is further directed to methods for eliciting an immune response to telomerase reverse transcriptase in a subject.

Abstract: A method for increasing the proliferative capacity of a cell provides a substance that modulates the activity of a myc-like protein and contacts the cell with the substance. The cell is optionally mammalian. Preferably, the mammalian cell is not a stem cell. In another embodiment, the method utilizes a substance that is a peptide, protein, carbohydrate, small molecule, lipid, or natural extract. Also, the myc-like activity can be modulated by increasing the amount of myc-like protein in the cell. In another embodiment, the amount of myc-like protein is increased by inserting a transgene therefor. Preferably the myc-like protein is L2-myc, N-myc or L-myc. Also disclosed is a method of delaying aging in a cell that includes administering a pharmaceutical composition with L2-myc or a portion thereof which is sufficient to promote telomerase expression; and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, whereby the increased telomerase increases the length of telomeres in aging tissues.

Abstract: A method for increasing the proliferative capacity of a cell provides a substance that modulates the activity of a myc repressor and contacts the cell with the substance. The cell is optionally mammalian. Preferably, the mammalian cell is not a stem cell. In another embodiment, the method utilizes a substance that is a peptide, protein, carbohydrate, small molecule, lipid, or natural extract. Also, the myc-repressor activity can be modulated by decreasing the amount of myc-repressor protein in the cell. Also disclosed is a method of delaying aging in a cell that includes administering a pharmaceutical composition with a myc-repressor modulating protein or a portion thereof which is sufficient to promote telomerase expression; and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, whereby the increased telomerase increases the length of telomeres in aging tissues. The method may include increasing telomerase expression in non-expressing tissue.

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

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of identifying in a sample nucleic acids that encode human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTRT) or its fragments. The present invention is also directed to oligonucleotide primers used in such methods. The invention is further directed to PCR products that hybridize under stringent conditions to a polynucleotide encoding hTRT, as well as hybridization complexes comprising one strand of a cellular hTRT nucleic acid and one strand of nucleic acid comprising a recombinant or synthetic fragment of hTRT.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for modulating, and generally upregulating, the expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) by blocking repression of TERT transcription, e.g., by inhibiting binding of repressor factor to a Site C repressor binding site located in the TERT minimal promoter. The subject methods and compositions find use in a variety of different applications, including the immortalization of cells, the production of reagents for use in life science research, therapeutic applications; therapeutic agent screening applications; and the like. In further describing the subject invention, the methods and compositions of the invention are described first in greater detail, followed by a review of the various applications in which the subject invention finds use.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to expression vectors comprising a polynucleotide that encodes a human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTRT) protein, variant, or fragment. The present invention is also directed to host cells that comprise expression vectors comprising a polynucleotide that encodes a hTRT protein variant, or fragment.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to monoclonal or recombinant antibodies or fragments thereof that bind to human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTRT) protein. The present invention is also directed to methods of identifying or detecting hTRT polypeptides in biological samples. The invention is further directed to methods of generating antibodies that specifically bind to hTRT protein.

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: Methods and compositions are provided for modulating, and generally upregulating, the expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) by blocking repression of TERT transcription, e.g., by inhibiting binding of repressor factor to a Site C repressor binding site, e.g., Site C2 and/or Site C3, located in the TERT gene. The subject methods and compositions find use in a variety of different applications, including the immortalization of cells, the production of reagents for use in life science research, therapeutic applications; therapeutic agent screening applications; and the like. In further describing the subject invention, the methods and compositions of the invention are described first in greater detail, followed by a review of the various applications in which the subject invention finds use.

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.