HTERT Meaning and
Definition
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HTERT is an acronym that stands for Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase. It refers to a crucial enzyme that plays a significant role in maintaining the length and stability of telomeres, which are sequences of repetitive DNA at the ends of chromosomes.
Telomeres are important for preserving chromosomal integrity and preventing the loss of essential genetic information during cell division. As cells replicate, their telomeres gradually get shorter, leading to cellular senescence or aging. HTERT is responsible for counteracting this natural telomere erosion by catalyzing the addition of repetitive DNA sequences to the ends of chromosomes to maintain their length.
HTERT is primarily found in germ cells, stem cells, and certain types of cancer cells, as these are the cells with the greatest need for active telomerase. It is capable of elongating telomeres by using an RNA template to synthesize DNA segments onto the chromosome ends. This reverse transcription process provides an extension to the telomeres and enables cells to continue dividing indefinitely without experiencing telomere shortening.
The activity of HTERT is tightly regulated to avoid uncontrolled cellular division, which could lead to cancer. Its expression is typically repressed in normal somatic cells, limiting their replicative potential. In contrast, the upregulation and abnormal activation of HTERT have been observed in various cancer types, making it an attractive target for cancer therapy and diagnostic purposes. HTERT serves as a critical component in understanding telomere biology, potentially holding future implications for regenerative medicine and anti-aging research.
Common Misspellings for HTERT
- hteret
- htergt
- htertg
- hteryt
- hterty
- hter6t
- htert6
- htert5
- hhtert
- httert
- HvERT
- HTuRT
- HTmRT
- HTEzT
- HTEvT
- HTEpT
- h tert
- ht ert
- hte rt
- hter t
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