Patent ID: 8796438

Claim:
An isolated nucleic acid that encodes a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:2 and wherein said polypeptide comprises one or more deletions selected from the group consisting of: a) all of amino acid residues 930-934; b) at least 10 consecutive amino acids from residues 637-660; c) at least 10 consecutive amino acids from residues 748-766; d) at least 10 consecutive amino acids from residues 1055-1071; and e) at least 10 consecutive amino acids from residues 1084-1116; wherein said polypeptide lacks processive telomerase enzyme activity and wherein said polypeptide inhibits telomerase catalytic activity when expressed in a cell expressing human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTRT) and human telomerase RNA component.