title: Telomere and telomerase stability in human diseases and cancer.
abstract: Telomeres are the nucleoprotein structures at the end of linear eukaryotic chromosomes required for genome stability. Telomerase is the specialized enzyme deputed to their elongation. Maintenance of a proper telomere structure, an accurate regulation of telomerase biogenesis and activity, as well as a correct telomere-telomerase interaction and a faithful telomeric DNA replication are all processes that a cell has to precisely control to safeguard its functionality. Here, we review key factors that play a role in the development of these processes and their relationship with human health.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Genetica Molecolare, CNR, Via Abbiategrasso 207, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chiodi
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Genetica Molecolare - CNR, Via Abbiategrasso 207, 27100 Pavia, Italy, mondello@igm.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mondello
mesh_terms: D004194:Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*; D016615:Telomere
chemical_list: D019098:Telomerase