Functional investigation of the dynamics of TERRA and hTR in cancer cells

The research project is focused on the relationship between cancer and telomeres. It is intended to be a functional investigation of the dynamics of TERRA, a long non coding RNA transcribed at telomeres, and hTR, the telomerase RNA subunit, in human cancer cells. TERRA is an important molecule implicated in telomere maintenance and genome stability. Interestingly, TERRA interacts with the telomerase enzyme; however, the molecular details and implications of TERRA-telomerase interactions remain to be elucidated. A main objective of the project is to study the localization dynamics of TERRA and the telomerase RNA in human cancer cells. Preliminary results from our laboratory indicate that, in cancer cells, TERRA localizes to Cajal Bodies, a subcellular compartment. Since it is known that telomerase localizes to Cajal Bodies and this localization is essential to telomerase maturation, I will investigate whether TERRA and telomerase RNA both co-localize with Cajal Bodies in cancer cells and whether and impaired localization of telomerase to Cajal bodies also impact on TERRA localization. My results are expected to help understanding the function of TERRA in the regulation of telomerase in cancer.

Faculty Supervisor:

Pascal Chartrand

Student:

Partner:

University of Trento

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

Université de Montréal

Program: