POT1 Proteins and Enzymes

POT1 (protection of telomeres 1), a telomere regulator, is a single-stranded telomeric DNA-binding protein that controls telomerase-mediated telomere elongation. Telomere maintenance is required for protection against changes in telomere length, which has been implicated in ageing and certain cancers. Specifically, this protein functions as a member of a multi-protein complex that binds to the TTAGGG repeats of telomeres, regulating telomere length and protecting chromosome ends from illegitimate recombination, catastrophic chromosome instability, and abnormal chromosome segregation. Excessive transcriptional expression of POT1 has been associated with stomach cancers.