Science, Vol 266, Issue 5193, 2011-2015
Copyright © 1994 by American Association for the Advancement of Science
Specific association of human telomerase activity with immortal cells and cancer
NW Kim,
MA Piatyszek,
KR Prowse,
CB Harley,
MD West,
PL Ho,
GM Coviello,
WE Wright,
SL Weinrich,
and
JW Shay
Geron Corporation, Menlo Park, CA 94025.
Synthesis of DNA at chromosome ends by telomerase may be necessary for indefinite proliferation of human cells. A highly sensitive assay for measuring telomerase activity was developed. In cultured cells representing 18 different human tissues, 98 of 100 immortal and none of 22 mortal populations were positive for telomerase. Similarly, 90 of 101 biopsies representing 12 human tumor types and none of 50 normal somatic tissues were positive. Normal ovaries and testes were positive, but benign tumors such as fibroids were negative. Thus, telomerase appears to be stringently repressed in normal human somatic tissues but reactivated in cancer, where immortal cells are likely required to maintain tumor growth.
