Telomerase Assays A review and comparison of several telomerase activity assays.

Abstract

Telomerase is a protein that is required by immortalized cells and cancer cells to continue their unlimited division. In this paper, a number of assays for detecting telomerase activity are reviewed. This is done in order to assess their viability both as a tool for the quick and accurate diagnosis of cancer, which in turn yields better tools for testing existing cancer treatments. The techniques are also assessed for their ability to study telomerase's role in every living cell. We conclude that it is difficult to directly compare all techniques. Zhao & Qi et al.'s multiple amplification techinques is concluded as the best technique for cancer diagnosis and using surface plasmon resonance is concluded as the best technique for further study of telomerase.