title: Telomere Q-PNA-FISH--reliable results from stochastic signals.
abstract: Structural and functional analysis of telomeres is very important for understanding basic biological functions such as genome stability, cell growth control, senescence and aging. Recently, serious concerns have been raised regarding the reliability of current telomere measurement methods such as Southern blot and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Since telomere length is associated with age related pathologies, including cardiovascular disease and cancer, both at the individual and population level, accurate interpretation of measured results is a necessity. The telomere Q-PNA-FISH technique has been widely used in these studies as well as in commercial analysis for the general population. A hallmark of telomere Q-PNA-FISH is the wide variation among telomere signals which has a major impact on obtained results. In the present study we introduce a specific mathematical and statistical analysis of sister telomere signals during cell culture senescence which enabled us to identify high regularity in their variations. This phenomenon explains the reproducibility of results observed in numerous telomere studies when the Q-PNA-FISH technique is used. In addition, we discuss the molecular mechanisms which probably underlie the observed telomere behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cukusic Kalajzic
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Nikolina Skrobot
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Vidacek
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Miljenko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huzak
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ivankovic
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ivica
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rubelj
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008677:Metaphase; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013269:Stochastic Processes; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics*; D059505:Telomere Homeostasis