Comprehensive Analysis of Interaction Networks of Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase with Multiple Bioinformatic Approaches: Deep Mining the Potential Functions of Telomere and Telomerase.

Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is the protein component of telomerase complex. Evidence has accumulated showing that the nontelomeric functions of TERT are independent of telomere elongation. However, the mechanisms governing the interaction between TERT and its target genes are not clearly revealed. The biological functions of TERT are not fully elucidated and have thus far been underestimated. To further explore these functions, we investigated TERT interaction networks using multiple bioinformatic databases, including BioGRID, STRING, DAVID, GeneCards, GeneMANIA, PANTHER, miRWalk, mirTarBase, miRNet, miRDB, and TargetScan. In addition, network diagrams were built using Cytoscape software. As competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) are endogenous transcripts that compete for the binding of microRNAs (miRNAs) by using shared miRNA recognition elements, they are involved in creating widespread regulatory networks. Therefore, the ceRNA regulatory networks of TERT were also investigated in this study. Interestingly, we found that the three genes PABPC1, SLC7A11, and TP53 were present in both TERT interaction networks and ceRNAs target genes. It was predicted that TERT might play nontelomeric roles in the generation or development of some rare diseases, such as Rift Valley fever and dyscalculia. Thus, our data will help to decipher the interaction networks of TERT and reveal the unknown functions of telomerase in cancer and aging-related diseases.