TERT, or telomerase reverse transcriptase, is a crucial component of the enzyme telomerase, which is responsible for maintaining the length of telomeres, the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes. TERT is composed of multiple domains, including a telomerase conserved motif domain, a catalytic domain, and an RNA-binding domain. It functions by reverse transcribing its RNA template into DNA and adding it to the telomere DNA sequence, ensuring the integrity of chromosomes during cell division. TERT expression is tightly regulated in normal cells but is often upregulated in cancer cells, contributing to their uncontrolled proliferation. Besides its role in telomere maintenance, TERT is also involved in DNA repair, cell survival, and proliferation, and it has been implicated in various diseases, including cancer and pulmonary fibrosis.
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