Telomere
Original Editor - Lucinda hampton
Top Contributors - Lucinda hampton, Tolulope Adeniji and Vidya Acharya
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Telomeres are repetitive deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences which cap the ends of chromosomes, protecting them from degradation, note unlike the parts of the DNA they not contain information needed to make proteins. With every cell division the telomere shortens and when a critical telomere length is attained, cellular replication can no longer take place, and it becomes “senescent”. To counter this shortening telomerase plays a critical role. Telomerase is an enzyme in that repairs the telomeres of the chromosomes so that they do not become progressively shorter during successive rounds of chromosome replication. The telomeres themselves in turn are protected by protein complexes called “shelterins”. These shelterins role is to regulate telomerase activity on the telomere and prevent telomerase overactivity to avoid excessive telomere elongation[1].
Does this process mean anything regarding our mortality? Does the fate of individual cells mean that much with telomere shortening counting down the remaining time our bodies have to live? These questions remain to be answered.[2]
Stress and Telomeres[edit | edit source]
Shorter telomere length is associated with advancing chronological age and also increased disease morbidity and mortality. Emerging studies suggest that stress accelerates the erosion of telomeres from very early in life and possibly even influences the initial (newborn) setting of telomere length[3].
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References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Haupt S, Niedrist T, Sourij H, Schwarzinger S, Moser O. The Impact of Exercise on Telomere Length, DNA Methylation and Metabolic Footprints. Cells 2022, 11, 153. Available:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8750279/ (accessed 23.7.2022)
- ↑ The conversation Tick, tock… how stress speeds up your chromosomes’ ageing clock Available:https://theconversation.com/tick-tock-how-stress-speeds-up-your-chromosomes-ageing-clock-127728 (accessed 23.8.2022)
- ↑ Shalev I, Entringer S, Wadhwa PD, Wolkowitz OM, Puterman E, Lin J, Epel ES. Stress and telomere biology: a lifespan perspective. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2013 Sep 1;38(9):1835-42.Available:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23639252/ (accessed 23.7.2022)
