No, telomerase is not a single gene, but rather an enzyme complex made up of components that are produced from genes.
Telomerase Components and Genes
Telomerase is a crucial enzyme, particularly active in cancer cells, that plays a role in maintaining the length of telomeres, which are protective caps on the ends of chromosomes. This enzyme complex is composed of two essential components:
- hTERT: This component is a protein and is produced from the TERT gene.
- hTR: This component is an RNA molecule and is produced from the TERC gene.
| Component | Gene Origin | Description |
|---|---|---|
| hTERT | TERT | Protein component of telomerase |
| hTR | TERC | RNA component of telomerase, produced from TERC |
Therefore, telomerase itself isn't a gene; it's an enzyme complex built from components encoded by genes like TERT and TERC.
