Abstract
Telomerase is a specialized reverse transcriptase responsible for synthesizing and maintaining telomeric DNA. Little is known about mechanisms that regulate telomerase. To determine the hormonal regulation mechanism for the telomerase, we examined the telomerase activity and gene expression during auxin-induced callus formation of cotyledon of mung bean (Vigna radiataL.Wilczek).Using degenerete PCR approach from the known amino acid homology of three plant telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERTs), we have isolated a cDNA fragment of Vigna radiata TERT (VrTERT) from mung bean callus. This VrTERT cDNA fragment was very similar to the other TERTs, and contained the conserved reverse transcriptase motifs B, C, D and E. Although telomerase enzyme activity was induced after 12 hours, VrTERT mRNA was detected after 1 hour auxin treatment. From these results, some complex mechanisms are considered for the induction of telomerase activity after gene expression.
