Press Release 05-038 The First Key Piece of Telomerase
UCLA biochemists map a knot of RNA that's critical to the enzyme's functioning
March 14, 2005
Every time a cell divides, the tips of its chromosomes become shorter. That process is part of normal aging but is reversed in some groups of rapidly dividing cells by an enzyme known as telomerase. That ability also makes telomerase a key player in the spread of most cancers.
Now, in research that could lead to important new targets for drug intervention, biochemists at UCLA have determined the 3-dimensional structure of a critical piece of the enzyme.
For further information, see the UCLA news release.
This research was funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, and is the cover story in the March 4 issue of Molecular Cell.
-NSF-
Media Contacts
Stuart Wolpert, UCLA (310) 206-0511 stuartw@college.ucla.edu
M. Mitchell Waldrop, NSF (703) 292-7752 mwaldrop@nsf.gov
Program Contacts
Kamal Shukla, NSF (703) 292-7131 kshukla@nsf.gov
Principal Investigators
Juli Feigon, UCLA (310) 206 6922 feigon@mbi.ucla.edu
Related Websites Feigon Laboratory at UCLA: http://www.biochemistry.ucla.edu/biochem/Faculty/Feigon/
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2009, its budget is $9.5 billion, which includes $3.0 billion provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to over 1,900 universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives about 44,400 competitive requests for funding, and makes over 11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards over $400 million in professional and service contracts yearly.
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