Premium
Reverse transcriptase inhibitors suppress telomerase function and induce senescence‐like processes in cultured mouse fibroblasts
Author(s) -
Yegorov Yegor E.,
Chernov Dmitry N.,
Akimov Sergei S.,
Bolsheva Nadezda L.,
Krayevsky Alexander A.,
Zelenin Alexander V.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(96)00533-9
Subject(s) - telomerase , telomerase reverse transcriptase , reverse transcriptase , telomere , embryonic stem cell , senescence , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , cell culture , fibroblast , mitosis , transformation (genetics) , chemistry , dna , biochemistry , rna , genetics , gene
Spontaneous transformation of mouse embryonic fibroblasts in the presence of the reverse transcriptase inhibitors azidothymidine and carbovir led to the formation of telomerase‐free clones. After prolonged cultivation of fibroblasts in the presence of carbovir, resistant cells with a very high level of telomerase activity were obtained. Azidothymidine and carbovir, but not dideoxycytidine, induced senescence‐like processes in cultures of immortal mouse fibroblasts. After long‐term incubation, cell proliferation gradually decreased, their morphology becoming similar to that of the senescent ones. The process was reversible: after inhibitor removal, the cells, including the giant ones, entered mitoses. All these data suggest that reverse transcriptase inhibitors block telomerase function in mouse cells.