Removing Cancer's Imortality: Targeting Telomerase Protein-Protein Interactions

A feature of tumours is immortality. This is achieved by overriding our natural ageing process. Our DNA has repeating units on the end that protect our DNA code, like the plastic ends of shoelaces, called telomeres. When cells grow and divide the DNA is incompletely copied, shortening the telomeres. As part of a normal ageing process, when the telomeres are shortened too far the DNA unravels, cells can no longer divide, and die. Cancer uses a complex of proteins called telomerase to add telomeres to the end of DNA, giving tumours immortality. This project aims to use a new technique, developed in our lab, to design molecules which can control this protein complex.