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Telomerase is a reverse transcriptase enzyme that carries its own RNA molecule (e.g., with the sequence 3′-CCCAAUCCC-5′ in Trypanosoma brucei) [3] which is used as a template when it elongates telomeres. Telomerase is active in gametes and most cancer cells, but is normally absent in most somatic cells.
In most multicellular eukaryotic organisms, telomerase is active only in germ cells, some types of stem cells such as embryonic stem cells, and certain white blood cells. [9] Telomerase can be reactivated and telomeres restored to the embryonic state by somatic cell nuclear transfer. [18]
Thus the age correlation is close to its maximum possible correlation value of 1. Other biological clocks are based on a) telomere length, b) p16INK4a expression levels (also known as INK4a/ARF locus), [38] and c) microsatellite mutations. [39] The correlation between chronological age and telomere length is r = −0.51 in women and r = −0.55 ...
Telomerase levels were measured at baseline, and again after three months, when researchers discovered that, in the 24 participants with sufficient data for analysis, telomerase in the blood had increased by 29 percent. The authors commented that "The implications of this study are not limited to men with prostate cancer.
Telomerase is expressed by most vertebrates during embryonic stages but is generally absent from adult stages of life. [23] However, unlike vertebrates, lobsters express telomerase as adults through most tissue, which has been suggested to be related to their longevity. [24] [25] [26] Contrary to popular belief, lobsters are not immortal.
Human chromosomes (grey) capped by telomeres (white). A telomere (/ ˈ t ɛ l ə m ɪər, ˈ t iː l ə-/; from Ancient Greek τέλος (télos) 'end' and μέρος (méros) 'part') is a region of repetitive nucleotide sequences associated with specialized proteins at the ends of linear chromosomes (see Sequences).
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The protein encoded by the TERF 1 gene is also involved in the biological process of cell division and the negative regulation of the maintenance of telomere facilitated by the enzyme telomerase. Other than functioning as an inhibitor of the enzyme telomerase in the process of elongation of the ends of chromosomes, the protein has other functions.