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Review

The role of telomeres and telomerase reverse transcriptase isoforms in pluripotency induction and maintenance

, &
Pages 707-719 | Received 06 Jul 2015, Accepted 15 Dec 2015, Published online: 27 May 2016

Figures & data

Table 1. Species-specific comparison of telomere/telomerase effects and their interactions with pluripotency regulation.

Figure 1. Proposed routes of pluripotency maintenance and self-renewal by pluripotent stem cells through functions of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) isoforms. TERT expression is regulated by a number of key pluripotency/transcription factors. Conversely, TERT regulates pluripotency and self-renewal via canonical (telomeric) and non-canonical (mitochondrial, transcriptional) functions in pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). Telomere- and chromosome-mediated TERT effects lead to changes in pluripotency and cell proliferation by modulating the activities of transcription factors (c-Myc, β-Catenin, NF-κB, p53). This figure would be much more complex with additional TERT variant specific functions, as well as multiple TERT splice variants modulating each of its current roles. Common acronyms: mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA), Δψm (Mitochondrial Membrane Potential/MMP), ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) UCP2 (Mitochondria uncoupling protein 2), β-Cat (β-Catenin/CTNNB1), DDR (DNA Damage Response). The line without arrowhead underneath p53 indicates existing evidence for interaction with lack of mechanistic understanding.

Figure 1. Proposed routes of pluripotency maintenance and self-renewal by pluripotent stem cells through functions of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) isoforms. TERT expression is regulated by a number of key pluripotency/transcription factors. Conversely, TERT regulates pluripotency and self-renewal via canonical (telomeric) and non-canonical (mitochondrial, transcriptional) functions in pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). Telomere- and chromosome-mediated TERT effects lead to changes in pluripotency and cell proliferation by modulating the activities of transcription factors (c-Myc, β-Catenin, NF-κB, p53). This figure would be much more complex with additional TERT variant specific functions, as well as multiple TERT splice variants modulating each of its current roles. Common acronyms: mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA), Δψm (Mitochondrial Membrane Potential/MMP), ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) UCP2 (Mitochondria uncoupling protein 2), β-Cat (β-Catenin/CTNNB1), DDR (DNA Damage Response). The line without arrowhead underneath p53 indicates existing evidence for interaction with lack of mechanistic understanding.

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