Biophysical Characterization of the hTERT Promoter DNA Structure

Telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is the catalytic subunit of the enzyme telomerase that is essential for the maintenance of telomeres, the protective end-capping structures of chromosomes. Expression of the gene that codes for hTERT is controlled by a promoter region that contains a sequence that potentially forms a four-stranded G-quadruplex structure, a novel DNA form distinct from the canonical and well-known duplex DNA first described by Watson and Crick. This seminar will describe our biophysical and biochemical studies aimed at defining the details of G-quadruplex structure. Supported by NIH grant GM 077422.