As a result only some members have been identified

Now were starting to piece together how it happens, andthat gives us more opportunities to interfere with its function." Telomerase has been subject of intense research for years, but scientists havebeen stymied by the enzymes large size and extreme rarity. Few cells in theadult body make the huge protein complex, and even they make only tiny amounts.As a result, only some members have been identified. "Its been incredibly challenging to figure out all the protein components oftelomerase," said Artandi, who refers to the unknown members of the complex as"dark matter." "We know how big the enzyme is, and its clear that the knowncomponents dont add up to the total. Early last year,Artandi's lab used the same technique to identify for the first time two otherproteins-pontin and reptin-that are important for assembling the massivecomplex. This time around they identified TCAB1, a protein of previously unknownfunction. Unlike pontin and reptin, TCAB1 is a true component of telomerase But its notrequired for the enzymes activity.

Rather, it recruits the telomerase complexto processing and holding areas in the nucleus of the cell called Cajal(pronounced "cuh-hall") bodies. Like a high-end garage, Cajal bodies apply thefinishing touches to a variety of proteins that use small molecules of RNA toconduct their activities (telomerase, for example, uses an RNA molecule as atemplate for the DNA chain it tacks onto the ends of chromosomes). "When we inhibited its activity in humancancer cells, the telomeres grew shorter," implying the cancer cells would diemore quickly Prior to this study, TCAB1 had no known function. "Andy Venteicher found thatTCAB1 binds not only telomerase, but also a specific class of small, non-codingRNA molecules that also end up in the Cajal bodies," said Artandi.

He added thatthe protein may be a common biological shuttle responsible for delivering avariety of molecules to their destinations. "This is a story thats been unfolding over decades," said Artandi. "Telomeraseis such a high-priority target for many diseases, but its hard to attack whenyou know very little about it. But thats changing now." The research was funded by the National Cancer Institute and the Leukemia andLymphoma Society.

Stanford graduate student Kelly McCann also participated inthe research. Stanford University Medical Center integrates research, medical education andpatient care at its three institutions - Stanford University School of Medicine,Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital at Stanford.For more information, please visit the Web site of the medical centers Officeof Communication & Public Affairs at University Medical CenterKrista Conger, 650-725-5371 (Print Media)M.A. Malone, 650-723-6912 (Broadcast Media)Copyright Business Wire 2009. MOSCOW, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Russia's government anti-crisiscommission will consider aid to carmaker GAZ (GAZA.RTS), whichis owned by indebted aluminium magnate Oleg Deripaska, industryand commission sources said on Thursday. Russia The maker of the Volga car and Gazelle light truck was amongthe first Russian companies to limit production in the crisis,citing falling demand. "It does not mean that they are any worse off (than othermembers of Russia's auto industry)," the source said. 3, Itar-Tass quotedShuvalov as saying on the sidelines of the World Economic Forumin Davos, Switzerland.Deripaska, who turned to Russia's government to finance hisRUSAL aluminium conglomerate's $4.5 billion syndicated loan lastautumn, has been forced by the crisis to sell stakes in severalforeign companies to raise cash.