Eimeria tenella: Cloning and characterization of telomerase reverse transcriptase gene

Telomerase is essential for maintaining telomere length and chromosome stability in most eukaryotic organisms. The telomerase ribonucleoprotein complex consists of two essential components, the intrinsic telomerase RNA and the catalytic telomerase reverse transcriptase protein. Here we describe the cloning, sequencing and characterization of the telomerase reverse transcriptase catalytic subunit from the apicomplexan protozoon Eimeria tenella. The amino acid sequence predicted from it has all the signature motifs of the TERT family members. The E. tenella TERT cDNA contains an open reading frame encoding a protein with 1497 amino acids predicted size of 172 kDa and isoelectric point of 9.344. It contains the conserved reverse transcriptase motifs 1, 2, A, B, C, D and E as well as the TERT-specific T motif and the N-terminal conserved motifs GQ, CP and QFP. RT-PCR analysis indicated that E. tenella TERT mRNA expressed in sporozoites and merozoites phase while not in unsporulated oocysts. At the same time, the result of TRAP assay indicated that marked telomerase activity were detected in sporozoites and merozoites. In contrast, telomerase activity was not detected in unsporulated oocysts.