C-terminal amino acids 290-328 of LPTS/PinX1 confer telomerase inhibition.

LPTS/PinX1, a telomerase inhibitor composed of 328 amino acids, binds to the telomere associated protein Pin2/TRF1 and to the telomerase catalytic subunit hTERT. However, the mechanism by which LPTS/PinX1 regulates telomerase activity remains unclear. Here we show, for the first time, that LPTS/PinX1 uses different domains to interact with Pin2/TRF1 and hTERT. The LPTS/PinX1(254-289) fragment specifically binds to Pin2/TRF1, and LPTS/PinX1(290-328) can associate with hTERT. Compared with the full-length LPTS/PinX1 protein, LPTS/PinX1(290-328) shows stronger in vitro telomerase inhibitory activity. Moreover, the LPTS/PinX1 protein was recruited to telomeres for binding to Pin2/TRF1. Overexpression of LPTS/PinX1(290-328), which contains a nucleolus localization signal, in cells resulted in telomere shortening and progressive cell death. Conversely, telomere elongation was induced by expression of the dominant-negative LPTS/PinX1(1-289). Our results suggest that the C-terminal fragment of LPTS/PinX1 (LPTS/PinX1(290-328)) contains a telomerase inhibitory domain that is required for the inhibition of telomere elongation and the induction of cell crisis. Our studies also provide evidence that LPTS/PinX1 interaction with Pin2/TRF1 may play a role in the stabilization of telomeres.