Telomere-related proteins

thumb|Telomerase catalytic subunit TERT of [[Tribolium castaneum (Red flour beetle), bound to putative RNA template and telomeric DNA (PDB 3KYL)]] thumb|A conceptual diagram showing the protein component of telomerase (TERT) in grey and the RNA component (TR) in yellow

protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Shelterin (also called telosome) is a protein complex known to protect telomeres in many eukaryotes from DNA repair mechanisms, as well as to regulate telomerase activity. In mammals and other vertebrates, telomeric DNA consists of repeating double-stranded 5'-TTAGGG-3' (G-strand) sequences (2-15 kilobases in humans) along with the 3'-AATCCC-5' (C-strand) complement, ending with a 50-400 nucleotide 3' (G-strand) overhang. Much of the final double-stranded portion of the telomere forms a T-loop (Telomere-loop) that is invaded by the 3' (G-strand) overhang to form a small D-l

Telomere length regulation protein TEL2 homolog is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TELO2 gene.

H/ACA ribonucleoprotein complex subunit 4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the DKC1 gene. The encoded protein, known as dyskerin, is a highly conserved nucleolar enzyme that plays key roles in rRNA modification, telomerase function, and ribosome biogenesis.

Tankyrase, also known as tankyrase 1, is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the TNKS gene. It inhibits the binding of TERF1 to telomeric DNA. Tankyrase attracts substantial interest in cancer research through its interaction with AXIN1 and AXIN2, which are negative regulators of pro-oncogenic β-catenin signaling. Importantly, activity in the β-catenin destruction complex can be increased by tankyrase inhibitors and thus such inhibitors are a potential therapeutic option to reduce the growth of β-catenin-dependent cancers.

TERF1-interacting nuclear factor 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TINF2 gene. TINF2 is a component of the shelterin protein complex found at the end of telomeres.