Fig. 5.

In vivo correlation of hnRNP A2* expression with telomerase activity and telomere length. (A) Expression of hnRNP A2*, hnRNP A2, TERT, and telomerase activity in 7-wk-old rat tissues. Expression was analyzed by RT-PCR. Telomerase activity was assayed by TRAP. Relative abundance was obtained by normalizing band intensity to actin and then to brain. IS, Internal standard. (B) Overexpression of hnRNP A2* increases telomere length in HeLa cells. Cells were drug-selected and cultured to the indicated population doublings (PDs) after they were transfected with HA-hnRNP A2* or empty control vector. Telomere restriction fragments were detected by Southern blot (Left) and then digitized for quantification (Right). M, marker.