Background information

Because DNA replicates in a 5’ to 3’ direction, the lagging strand of DNA running in a 3’ to 5’ direction tends to cut short as RNA primers are used to backstitch DNA. The ribonucleic protein, telomerase is a reverse transcriptase that elongates the lagging strand of DNA by adding repeating sequences of the polynucleotide “TTAGGG” to the 3’ ends of chromosomes called telomeres. Telomerase is beneficial for both normal and cancerous cells because it maintains cell sustainability and keeps cells from deteriorating. However normal cells tend to have small amounts of telomerase leading to shortening of telomere sequences and tissue degeneration; while tumor cells have been able to replicate indefinitely because they have been able to reactivate telomerase. The mechanisms allowing telomerase to do this remains unknown, and it is therefore important to study more about the telomerase reaction cycle and its RNA/DNA duplex. My project will be focusing on the RNA protein interactions in telomerase between the telomerase reverse transcriptase protein subunit and the telomerase RNA subunit.