Determination of telomerase MRNA ekspression (dogtert) in dogs

Telomeres a resituated at the ends of human chromosomes; with repeating TTAGGG sequences(bases)and related proteins; which protect sticking of chromosome ends and thus from chromosomal defects. Intactness of telomeres is maintained by an enzyme called telomerase. Telomeresa rerepetitive DNA sequences at theends of chromosomes, protecting the magainstin complete replication and nuclease degradation. Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein enzyme complex. It restores telomere sequences lost duringr eplication by using its RNA component as a template for polymerization. It is believed that telomerase enzyme activation play a significant role in the cell immortalization and carcinogenesis. The telomerase activation leads to indefinite proliferation and immortalization therefore, it is an important step in tumourigenesis. It has been found that the human telomerase revers transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA expression is correlated with telomerase activity and is up-regulated in mostpre-cancerous lesions and human cancer. In this study, we aimed to evaluate quantitative determination of dogTERT mRNA expression and to analyze the correlation between the expression level of dogTERT mRNA and different age and race. The level of dogTERT mRNA was analyzed in 38 different age and race dogs by Real-Time quantative RT-PCR. The levels of dogTERT mRNA expression in group 1 (2,5-18 month) were significantly higher than group 2 (3-6 age) dogs. Our preliminary results show that real time PCR measurement of dogTERT mRNA in peripheric blood discriminates is the first study of all about dog telomer studies. However, a further study with long-term follow up in a larger number of patients is required to confirm the clinical application of this molecular marker. Keywords: Telomere, Telomerase, dogTERT, qRT-PCR, Dog.