[Telomere, cellular senescence and transformation]

Nihon Rinsho. 1993 Jul;51(7):1899-906.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

Telomere is the structure which is located on both ends of individual chromosomes in eukaryotes. The DNA sequence of the telomere consists of Guanine-rich tandem repeat, i.e., (TTAGGG)n in man. Telomere protects the end of the chromosome from fusion or deletion and maintains the stability of the chromosome and is synthesized by telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein. Telomere reduction is observed with cell senescence and immortalization, both in vivo and in vitro. Thus, telomere is considered to be a "clock" which measures the life span of cells, and its length is altered by cellular senescence and immortalization.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics*
  • Cellular Senescence / physiology*
  • DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase / physiology
  • Humans
  • Telomere / physiology*

Substances

  • DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase