WD Repeat Containing Protein, Antisense To TP53 (WRAP53)

Immunoprecipitation showed that TCAB1 interacted specifically with dyskerin, TERT, and TERC, all principal components of active telomerase, and with small Cajal body RNAs (scaRNAs), which are involved in modifying splicing RNAs. Immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence experiments showed that TCAB1 is a holoenzyme subunit that is notably enriched in Cajal bodies, nuclear sites of RNP processing that are important for telomerase function.

Depletion of TCAB1 by RNA interference prevented TERC from associating with Cajal bodies, disrupted telomerase-telomere association, and abrogated telomere synthesis by telomerase. Thus, TCAB1 controls telomerase trafficking and is required for telomere synthesis in human cancer cells.