Telomerase is the enzyme responsible for maintenance of the length of telomeres by addition of guanine-rich repetitive sequences. Telomerase activity is exhibited in gametes and stem and tumor cells. In human somatic cells proliferation potential is strictly limited and senescence follows approximately 50-70 cell divisions. In most tumor cells, on the contrary, replication potential is unlimited. The key role in this process of the system of the telomere length maintenance with involvement of telomerase is still poorly studied. No doubt, DNA polymerase is not capable to completely copy DNA at the very ends of chromosomes; therefore, approximately 50 nucleotides are lost during each cell cycle, which results in gradual telomere length shortening. Critically short telomeres cause senescence, following crisis, and cell death. However, in tumor cells the system of telomere length maintenance is activated. Besides catalytic telomere elongation, independent telomerase functions can be also involved in cell cycle regulation. Inhibition of the telomerase catalytic function and resulting cessation of telomere length maintenance will help in restriction of tumor cell replication potential. On the other hand, formation of temporarily active enzyme via its intracellular activation or due to stimulation of expression of telomerase components will result in telomerase activation and telomere elongation that can be used for correction of degenerative changes. Data on telomerase structure and function are summarized in this review, and they are compared for evolutionarily remote organisms. Problems of telomerase activity measurement and modulation by enzyme inhibitors or activators are considered as well.

M I Zvereva

D M Shcherbakova

O A Dontsova

Biochemistry. Biokhimiia

BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 是一本收录生物化学所有领域以及分子生物学、生物有机化学、微生物学、免疫学、生理学和生物医学科学的生化方面的研究论文的期刊。报道还延伸到生物化学的新实验方法、生化重要性的理论贡献、当代生化主题的评论和小型评论（生物化学新闻）。

Biochemistry (Moscow) is a journal that covers all areas of biochemistry, including research papers in molecular biology, bioorganic chemistry, microbiology, immunology, physiology, and biomedical sciences. The journal also reports on new experimental methods in biochemistry, theoretical contributions of significant importance, and reviews and brief commentaries on contemporary biochemical topics (Biochemistry News).

《Biochemistry (Moscow)》是一本涵盖生物化学各个领域的期刊，涉及分子生物学、生物有机化学、微生物学、免疫学、生理学和生物医学科学的研究论文。期刊内容还包括生物化学的新实验方法、理论贡献以及当代生化主题的评论和简短综述（生物化学新闻）。

Biochemistry (Moscow)

Biochemistry (Mosc)

Telomerase: structure, functions, and activity regulation.

Telomerase structure and function are summarized in this review, and they are compared for evolutionarily remote organisms and problems of telomerase activity measurement and modulation by enzyme inhibitors or activators are considered.

Category	Quartile
生物学	4
生物学, 生化与分子生物学	4

Telomerase: structure, functions, and activity regulation.

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