Encodes the catalytic subunit of telomerase reverse transcriptase. Involved in telomere homeostasis. Homozygous double mutants with ATR show gross morphological defects over a period of generations. TERT shows Class II telomerase activity in vitro, indicating that it can initiate de novo telomerase synthesis on non-telomeric DNA, often using a preferred position within the telomerase-bound RNA. Loss of function mutants have reduced telomere length in roots and over a period of generations, decreasing root meristem function.
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