Methods for modulating telomerase activity

Abstract

The present invention relates to isolated or purified molecule(s) capable of binding to one or more of telomeric, G-quadruplex, or G-quartet nucleic acid(s).

1 . An isolated or purified molecule capable of binding to one or more of telomeric, G-quadruplex, or G-quartet nucleic acid.  
     
     
         2 . A molecule according to  claim 1  wherein said nucleic acid is not in a double-helical conformation.  
     
     
         3 . A molecule according to  claim 1  wherein said nucleic acid comprises single-stranded DNA.  
     
     
         4 . A molecule according to  claim 1  wherein said nucleic acid is comprised in a chromosome end.  
     
     
         5 . A molecule according to  claim 1  wherein said nucleic acid is comprised in a telomeric structure.  
     
     
         6 . A molecule according to  claim 1  wherein said nucleic acid is in a non-Watson-Crick base paired conformation.  
     
     
         7 . A molecule according to  claim 1  wherein said nucleic acid comprises Hoogsteen base pairing.  
     
     
         8 . A molecule according to  claim 1  wherein said molecule is a polypeptide.  
     
     
         9 . A molecule according to  claim 1  wherein said molecule is a polypeptide comprising at least one zinc finger motif.  
     
     
         10 . A molecule according to  claim 1  wherein said molecule has an affinity for G-quadruplex nucleic acid which is different from its affinity for duplex nucleic acid.  
     
     
         11 . A method for assaying telomerase activity, said method comprising 
 (i) providing a sample of nucleic acid substrate for telomerase;    (ii) contacting said nucleic acid sample with a telomerase;    (iii) contacting said nucleic acid sample with a molecule according to  claim 1;  and    (iv) monitoring the binding of said molecule to said telomerase treated nucleic acid sample.    
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein said assay method comprises an ELISA assay.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein said assay method is in micro-well format.  
     
     
         14 . A method for estimating the length of telomere(s), said method comprising 
 (i) contacting said telomere(s) with a molecule according to  claim 1     (ii) monitoring the binding of said molecule to said telomere sample, and    (iii) estimating the length of said telomeres from the strength of said binding.    
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein said method comprises an ELISA assay.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein said method is in micro-well format.  
     
     
         17 . A method for discriminating between duplex and quadruplex nucleic acid comprising contacting a sample of nucleic acid with a molecule according to  claim 10 , and monitoring the binding of said molecule to said nucleic acid.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein said method comprises an ELISA assay.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein said method is in micro-well format.  
     
     
         20 . A method for detecting telomeric structures in vivo comprising (i) contacting a labelled molecule according to any preceding claim with a sample, and (ii) monitoring said labelled molecule.  
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20  wherein said method comprises an ELISA assay.  
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 20  wherein said method is in micro-well format.  
     
     
         23 . A method for manipulating telomeric structure(s) in vivo comprising contacting a labelled molecule according to any preceding claim with a telomeric structure, wherein said molecule further comprises an effector domain.