How the CST protein complex and telomerase work at chromosome ends
The interplay of the CST complex and telomerase at human telomeres
Researchers are looking at how the CST protein complex and telomerase keep chromosome ends (telomeres) healthy to help people at risk for cancer and short-telomere diseases like Coats plus.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rockefeller University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11184445 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my point of view as a patient, the team studies three CST proteins (Ctc1, Stn1, Ten1) and the DNA replication proteins that act at telomeres to understand how telomere length is controlled. They use laboratory experiments with purified systems and human cells, plus genetic and biochemical tests, to map how the C-strand is copied and how telomerase activity is limited. The researchers recently found a new end-replication problem that can shorten telomeres and are probing how CST and Pola/primase fix or fail to fix that problem. Their work links mistakes in these processes to cancer risk when telomeres are too long and to organ failure in short-telomere syndromes like Coats plus.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with inherited short-telomere syndromes (for example dyskeratosis congenita or Coats plus), people with family histories of telomere-related cancers, or those willing to donate samples for telomere research would be most relevant.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to telomere biology or those seeking an immediate clinical therapy are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or treat cancers tied to telomere length and to better understand or diagnose short-telomere disorders such as Coats plus.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have established that telomerase and telomere-associated complexes control telomere length, and this project builds on that body of work while exploring a newly described end-replication problem that is still novel.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Rockefeller University — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Takai, Hiroyuki — Rockefeller University
- Study coordinator: Takai, Hiroyuki
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.