[Telomere, cellular senescence and transformation].
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.
Ohmura
H
H
Department of Molecular and Cell Genetics, School of Life Science, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University.
Oshimura
M
M
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000502:physiology*; D004253:DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016615:Telomere / Q000502:physiology*
D004253:DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase