A team of Australian scientists has made a groundbreaking discovery that could significantly alter the way we treat cancer and age-related diseases. Researchers at the Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) in Sydney have identified a group of proteins that play a crucial role in regulating telomerase—an enzyme essential for protecting DNA during cell division, according to a report by Xinhua news agency.
Published in Nature Communications, the study identifies three proteins — NONO, SFPQ, and PSPC1 — that act as molecular guides, ensuring that telomerase reaches the ends of chromosomes, known as telomeres, which are vital for maintaining genetic stability.
Telomerase adds DNA to telomeres, preventing them from shortening and thus protecting chromosomes from damage. While this enzyme is vital for the health and function of stem cells and certain immune cells, it is also exploited by cancer cells to sustain uncontrolled growth.
Lead author Alexander Sobinoff explained, “Our findings show that these proteins act like molecular traffic controllers, making sure telomerase reaches the right destination inside the cell. Without them, telomerase cannot maintain telomeres properly.”
This insight opens promising avenues for targeting telomerase regulation in cancer therapy. Disrupting these guiding proteins in cancer cells, the study found, prevents proper telomere maintenance, which could effectively halt the growth of cancer cells.
Senior author Dr. Hilda Pickett, head of CMRI’s Telomere Length Regulation Unit, added, “Understanding how telomerase is controlled gives us a powerful new perspective. It paves the way for treatments aimed at cancer, ageing, and genetic disorders linked to telomere dysfunction.”
This discovery represents a major step forward in molecular medicine, offering potential for new drugs or gene therapies that could either slow the ageing process or shut down cancer cell proliferation—all by targeting a newly uncovered cellular mechanism.
