An RNA-dependent RNA polymerase formed by TERT and the RMRP RNA

Yoshiko Maida, Mami Yasukawa, Miho Furuuchi, Timo Lassmann, Richard Possemato, Naoko Okamoto, Vivi Kasim, Yoshihide Hayashizaki, William C. Hahn, Kenkichi Masutomi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

316 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Constitutive expression of telomerase in human cells prevents the onset of senescence and crisis by maintaining telomere homeostasis. However, accumulating evidence suggests that the human telomerase reverse transcriptase catalytic subunit (TERT) contributes to cell physiology independently of its ability to elongate telomeres. Here we show that TERT interacts with the RNA component of mitochondrial RNA processing endoribonuclease (RMRP), a gene that is mutated in the inherited pleiotropic syndrome cartilageĝ€"hair hypoplasia. Human TERT and RMRP form a distinct ribonucleoprotein complex that has RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) activity and produces double-stranded RNAs that can be processed into small interfering RNA in a Dicer (also known as DICER1)-dependent manner. These observations identify a mammalian RdRP composed of TERT in complex with RMRP.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)230-235
Number of pages6
JournalNature
Volume461
Issue number7261
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Sept 2009
Externally publishedYes

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