Telomerase enzyme mainly carries out which of the following functions in a cell?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is option 1 i.e. Extending the length of telomeres.
The correct function of the telomerase enzyme is Extending the length of telomeres.
Telomerase is a specialized ribonucleoprotein enzyme (meaning it contains both RNA and protein) that functions as a reverse transcriptase. Its main role is to add repetitive DNA sequences (TTAGGG in humans) to the ends of chromosomes, which are called telomeres . This counters the natural shortening that occurs during normal DNA replication, a phenomenon known as the "end-replication problem." Telomerase activity is essential in germ cells and stem cells to maintain their proliferative capacity and is also reactivated in approximately 90% of cancer cells, contributing to their limitless cell division.
Explanation of Other Options
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Repairing damaged DNA strands: This is the function of a different set of proteins and enzymes, such as DNA ligase and various endonucleases, which are part of the DNA repair pathways.
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Supporting RNA transcription: The primary enzyme for creating an RNA molecule from a DNA template is RNA polymerase.
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Assisting in DNA duplication: The core process of synthesizing a new DNA strand is carried out by the DNA polymerase enzyme complex.