Alternative splicing is a developmental switch for hTERT expression

Telomere length control is critical for cellular lifespan and tumor suppression. Telomerase is activated in the inner cell mass of the developing blastocyst to reset telomere reserves and its subsequent silencing in differentiated cells leads to gradual telomere shortening. Here, we report that transcriptional control through cis-regulatory elements minimally impact telomerase regulation as a function of pluripotency. Instead, developmental control of telomerase is largely driven by an alternative splicing event, centered around hTERT exon-2. Skipping of exon-2 triggers hTERT mRNA decay in differentiated cells. Conversely, its retention in pluripotent cells promotes telomerase accumulation. Our study also identifies SON as a regulator of exon-2 alternative splicing and we report a patient with insufficient telomerase and short telomeres and harboring a SON mutation. In summary, our study highlights a critical role for hTERT alternative splicing in the developmental regulation of telomerase and implicates defective splicing in telomere biology disorders. Overall design: Examination of chromatin accessibility and physical chromatin interactions