Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Telomeres.

E H Blackburn1

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco 94143.

Trends in Biochemical Sciences
|October 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Telomeres, the protective caps on eukaryotic chromosomes, are synthesized and maintained using a unique RNA template within the enzyme telomerase. This review covers the formation and upkeep of these essential DNA structures.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Meditation and vacation effects have an impact on disease-associated molecular phenotypes.

Translational psychiatry·2016
Same author

Sugary beverage and food consumption, and leukocyte telomere length maintenance in pregnant women.

European journal of clinical nutrition·2016
Same author

Peripheral telomere length and hippocampal volume in adolescents with major depressive disorder.

Translational psychiatry·2015
Same author

Depression, anxiety and telomere length in young adults: evidence from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Molecular psychiatry·2014
Same author

Determinants of telomere attrition over 1 year in healthy older women: stress and health behaviors matter.

Molecular psychiatry·2014
Same author

Shorter telomeres are associated with obesity and weight gain in the elderly.

International journal of obesity (2005)·2011
Same journal

Drugging the proteome via large-scale chemoproteomics.

Trends in biochemical sciences·2026
Same journal

Peptideins: Navigating the gray zone of the proteome.

Trends in biochemical sciences·2026
Same journal

A metabolon channels nicotine biosynthesis.

Trends in biochemical sciences·2026
Same journal

Better call chaperone.

Trends in biochemical sciences·2026
Same journal

Biochemistry at scale: Seeing both the forest and the trees.

Trends in biochemical sciences·2026
Same journal

Voices across Asia and Oceania: Biochemistry across borders.

Trends in biochemical sciences·2026
See all related articles

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Telomeres are specialized structures protecting the ends of linear eukaryotic chromosomes.
  • They comprise protein-bound, tandemly repeated DNA sequences.
  • Telomeric DNA synthesis relies on a unique RNA template within the telomerase enzyme.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the synthesis and maintenance mechanisms of telomeres.
  • To highlight the unique role of telomerase in telomere replication.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of telomere and telomerase research.
  • Analysis of established molecular mechanisms for telomere synthesis.
  • Discussion of regulatory pathways involved in telomere maintenance.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Telomeres are crucial for chromosomal stability and preventing DNA damage.
  • Telomerase utilizes an RNA template for reverse transcription, extending telomeric DNA.
  • Cellular processes ensure the accurate replication and maintenance of telomere length.

Conclusions:

  • Telomere synthesis and maintenance are complex processes vital for cell function.
  • Telomerase activity is tightly regulated and essential for genome integrity.
  • Understanding telomere dynamics is key to addressing aging and diseases associated with telomere dysfunction.