A hallmark of cancer cells is the ability to grow indefinitely, which in most tumors depends on the enzyme telomerase. Previous work had shown that the telomerase gene, TERT, is commonly switched on in cancer cells due to specific point mutations. Recent work by the research group of Dr Dennis Kappei now identified two proteins that can interact with these ’on-switch’ mutations, making the TERT gene more active and hence sustaining cancer cell growth. Understanding how proteins interpret such changes in our DNA may eventually contribute to the development of better cancer treatments.

Read more: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10760450/