Departmental Papers (Dental)
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of this Version
7-2011
Publication Source
Head and Neck
Volume
33
Issue
7
Start Page
1041
Last Page
1051
DOI
10.1002/hed.21579
Abstract
Background
Dyskerin, which is an important component of the telomerase complex and is needed for normal telomerase activity, is frequently overexpressed in neoplasia. Dyskerin also plays an essential role in ribosome biogenesis. Since protein synthesis increases during tumorigenesis, this led us to hypothesize that dyskerin expression would be upregulated independently of the cell immortalization mechanism.
Methods
Dyskerin and telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) expression were examined in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) and patient-matched controls, and in a panel of telomerase-positive and telomerase-negative cells. Antisense inhibition of TERT was used to test the effects of downregulation of telomerase on dyskerin expression.
Results
Dyskerin was frequently overexpressed in OSCC and in immortalized and transformed keratinocytes relative to primary cells, independently of TERT and telomerase activity. Instead, dyskerin expression strongly correlated with cell proliferation rates.
Conclusions
The role of dyskerin in tumorigenesis does not correlate with its function within the telomerase complex.
Copyright/Permission Statement
© <2011>. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Keywords
TERT, ALT, telomere, ribosome biogenesis, oral carcinogenesis
Recommended Citation
Alawi, F., Lin, P., Ziober, B., & Patel, R. (2011). Dyskerin Expression Correlates with Active Proliferation Independently of Telomerase. Head and Neck, 33 (7), 1041-1051. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hed.21579
Date Posted: 01 March 2022
This document has been peer reviewed.