Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) genes

Abstract

The present invention pertains, in general, to the identification, isolation and use of Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT) genes and the proteins encoded by such genes. In particular, the present invention pertains to the identification, isolation and use of TERT genes and TERT proteins from several genetically diverse and economically important organisms, including two human pathogens and an agronomic crop species.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of: (a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule that encodes the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.2, SEQ ID NO.4, SEQ ID NO.6, SEQ ID NO.8 or SEQ ID NO.10; (b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule that encodes a fragment of at least 6 amino acids of SEQ ID NO.2, SEQ ID NO.4, SEQ ID NO.6, SEQ ID NO.8 or SEQ ID NO.10; (c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to the complement of a nucleic acid molecule comprising SEQ ID NO.1, SEQ ID NO.3, SEQ ID NO.5, SEQ ID NO.7 or SEQ ID NO.9 under conditions of sufficient stringency to produce a clear signal; and (d) an isolated nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to a nucleic acid molecule that encodes the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.2, SEQ ID NO.4, SEQ ID NO.6, SEQ ID NO.8 or SEQ ID NO.10 under conditions of sufficient stringency to produce a clear signal.  
     
     
         2 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO.1, SEQ ID NO.3, SEQ ID NO.5, SEQ ID NO.7 or SEQ ID NO.9.  
     
     
         3 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 2 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule consists of the sequence of SEQ ID NO.1, SEQ ID NO.3, SEQ ID NO.5, SEQ ID NO.7 or SEQ ID NO.9.  
     
     
         4 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of any one of claims  1 - 3 , wherein said nucleic acid molecule is operably linked to one or more expression control elements.  
     
     
         5 . A vector comprising an isolated nucleic acid molecule of any one of claims  1 - 3 .  
     
     
         6 . A host cell transformed to contain the nucleic acid molecule of any one claims  1 - 3 .  
     
     
         7 . A host cell comprising a vector of  claim 5 .  
     
     
         8 . A method for producing a polypeptide comprising the step of culturing a host cell transformed with the nucleic acid molecule of any one of claims  1 - 3  under conditions in which the protein encoded by said nucleic acid molecule is expressed.  
     
     
         9 . An isolated polypeptide produced by the method of  claim 8 .  
     
     
         10 . An isolated polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: (a) an isolated polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.2, SEQ ID NO.4, SEQ ID NO.6, SEQ ID NO.8 or SEQ ID NO.10; (b) an isolated polypeptide comprising a fragment of at least 6 amino acids of SEQ ID NO.2, SEQ ID NO.4, SEQ ID NO.6, SEQ ID NO.8 or SEQ ID NO.10; (c) an isolated polypeptide comprising conservative amino acid substitutions of SEQ ID NO.2, SEQ ID NO.4, SEQ ID NO.6, SEQ ID NO.8 or SEQ ID NO.10; and (d) naturally occurring amino acid sequence variants of SEQ ID NO.2, SEQ ID) NO.4, SEQ ID NO.6, SEQ ID NO.8 or SEQ ID NO.10.  
     
     
         11 . An isolated antibody that binds to a polypeptide of either  claim 9  or  10 .  
     
     
         12 . The antibody of  claim 11  wherein said antibody is a monoclonal or polyclonal antibody.  
     
     
         13 . A method of identifying an agent which modulates the expression of a nucleic acid encoding the protein having the sequence of SEQ ID NO.2, SEQ ID NO.4, SEQ ID NO.6, SEQ ID NO.8 or SEQ ID NO.10 comprising the steps of: 
 exposing cells which express the nucleic acid to the agent; and    determining whether the agent modulates expression of said nucleic acid, thereby identifying an agent which modulates the expression of a nucleic acid encoding the protein having the sequence of SEQ ID NO.2, SEQ ID NO.4, SEQ ID NO.6, SEQ ID NO.8 or SEQ ID NO.10.    
     
     
         14 . A method of identifying an agent which modulates at least one activity of a protein comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO.2, SEQ ID NO.4, SEQ ID NO.6, SEQ ID NO.8 or SEQ ID NO.10 comprising the steps of: 
 exposing cells which express the protein to the agent;    determining whether the agent modulates at least one activity of said protein, thereby identifying an agent which modulates at least one activity of a protein comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO.2, SEQ ID NO.4, SEQ ID NO.6, SEQ ID NO.8 or SEQ ID NO.10.    
     
     
         15 . A method of identifying binding partners for a protein comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO.2, SEQ ID NO.4, SEQ ID NO.6, SEQ ID NO.8 or SEQ ID NO.10, comprising the steps of: 
 exposing said protein to a potential binding partner; and    determining if the potential binding partner binds to said protein, thereby identifying binding partners for a protein comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO.2, SEQ ID NO.4, SEQ ID NO.6, SEQ ID NO.8 or SEQ ID NO.10.    
     
     
         16 . A method of modulating the expression of a nucleic acid encoding the protein having the sequence of SEQ ID NO.2, SEQ ID NO.4, SEQ ID NO.6, SEQ ID NO.8 or SEQ ID NO.10 comprising the step of: 
 administering an effective amount of an agent which modulates the expression of a nucleic acid encoding the protein having the sequence of SEQ ID NO.2, SEQ ID NO.4, SEQ ID NO.6, SEQ ID NO.8 or SEQ ID NO.10.    
     
     
         17 . A method of modulating at least one activity of a protein comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO.2, SEQ ID NO.4, SEQ ID NO.6, SEQ ID NO.8 or SEQ ID NO.10 comprising the step of: 
 administering an effective amount of an agent which modulates at least one activity of a protein comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO.2, SEQ ID NO.4, SEQ ID NO.6, SEQ ID NO.8 or SEQ ID NO.10.    
     
     
         18 . A method for diagnosing  Plasmodium falciparum  infection in a patient comprising the steps of: 
 obtaining a cell sample from the patient;    determining whether the nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO.5 or SEQ ID NO.7 or the protein of SEQ ID NO.6 or SEQ ID NO.8 is present within the cell sample; and    correlating the presence of the nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO.5 or SEQ ID NO.7 or the protein of SEQ ID NO.6 or SEQ ID NO.8 with the presence of  Plasmodium falciparum.      
     
     
         19 . A method for diagnosing  Candida albicans  infection in a patient comprising the steps of: 
 obtaining a cell sample from the patient;    determining whether the nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO.1 or SEQ ID NO.3 or the protein of SEQ ID NO.2 or SEQ ID NO.4 is present within the cell sample; and    correlating the presence of the nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO.1 or SEQ ID NO.3 or the protein of SEQ ID NO.2 or SEQ ID NO.4 with the presence of  Candida albicans.