Significance of Telomere and Telomerase Biol - ogy and Their Relationship with Aging Process

2736 Telomeres, found at eukaryotic chromosome ends, are made up of tandem DNA repeats (TTAGGG repeats). Telomere(definition) is a heterochromatic domain and protects the chromosome end from rearrangement, end to end fusion and degradation. In most cells, the number of telomeric repeats is reduced with each cell cycle division. If telomeres are ever completely lost, the exposed chromosome ends are recognized as damaged DNA, activating a DNA damage response that can eventually lead to senescence(definition) or apoptosis. Telomerase the enzyme that maintains telomere length in cells counteracts telomere erosion and provides some somatic cells an unlimited proliferative potential in vitro. Full ]nvestigation of the association between telomere and telomerase can make useful contribution to prevention from human aging, aging syndromes and age related diseases.