title: The lighthouse at the end of the chromosome.
abstract: Fluorescence microscopy can be used to assess the dynamic localization and intensity of single entities in vitro or in living cells. It has been applied with aplomb to many different cellular processes and has significantly enlightened our understanding of the heterogeneity and complexity of biological systems. Recently, high-resolution fluorescence microscopy has been brought to bear on telomeres, leading to new insights into telomere spatial organization and accessibility, and into the mechanistic nuances of telomere elongation. We provide a snapshot of some of these recent advances with a focus on mammalian systems, and show how three-dimensional, time-lapse microscopy and single-molecule fluorescence shine a new light on the end of the chromosome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Montreal, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Yahya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Benslimane
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Montreal, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Montreal, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Montreal, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Harrington
keywords: Fluorescence microscopy; chromosome; single-molecule fluorescence; telomere elongation; telomere spatial organization; telomeres; time-lapse microscopy