Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026
11:21
Analyzing Telomeric Protein-DNA Interactions Using Single-Molecule Magnetic Tweezers
Published on: August 30, 2024
Telomere biology in Metazoa
Nuno M V Gomes1, Jerry W Shay, Woodring E Wright
1Department of Cell Biology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390-9039, USA.
FEBS Letters
|July 27, 2010
Summary
Telomeres and telomerase are ancient biological mechanisms for DNA maintenance across Metazoa. Persistent telomerase activity in some species may support regeneration, while its repression in others could be a tumor protection strategy.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of chromosomes.
- Telomerase is an enzyme that maintains telomere length.
- The (TTAGGG)(n) sequence is conserved in most Metazoa, excluding Nematodes and Arthropods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a critical overview of telomere and telomerase biology in Metazoa.
- To explore the evolutionary conservation and functional roles of telomeres and telomerase.
- To investigate the link between telomerase activity, regeneration, and aging.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of fundamental biology of telomeres and telomerase.
- Comparative analysis of telomere sequences across different Metazoan phyla.
- Examination of telomerase activity in various somatic tissues and its correlation with species' characteristics.
Main Results:
- Telomere sequence (TTAGGG)(n) is conserved in most Metazoa.
- Telomerase-based end maintenance is an ancient mechanism.
- Persistent telomerase activity in invertebrates, fish, amphibians, and reptiles correlates with regenerative potential.
- Telomerase repression in birds and mammals may serve as a tumor protection mechanism, potentially linked to replicative aging.
Conclusions:
- Telomeres and telomerase play crucial roles in genome stability and cellular processes across Metazoa.
- Differential regulation of telomerase activity has evolved, impacting regeneration and aging.
- Understanding telomere biology offers insights into aging and cancer prevention strategies.
Related Concept Videos
02:41Telomeres and Telomerase
In eukaryotic DNA replication, a single-stranded DNA fragment remains at the end of a chromosome after the removal of the final primer. This section of DNA cannot be replicated in the same manner as the rest of the strand because there is no 3’ end to which the newly synthesized DNA can attach. This non-replicated fragment results in gradual loss of the chromosomal DNA during each cell duplication. Additionally, it can induce a DNA damage response by enzymes that recognize single-stranded DNA.
02:41Telomeres and Telomerase
In eukaryotic DNA replication, a single-stranded DNA fragment remains at the end of a chromosome after the removal of the final primer. This section of DNA cannot be replicated in the same manner as the rest of the strand because there is no 3’ end to which the newly synthesized DNA can attach. This non-replicated fragment results in gradual loss of the chromosomal DNA during each cell duplication. Additionally, it can induce a DNA damage response by enzymes that recognize single-stranded DNA.
01:29Replication in Eukaryotes
In eukaryotic cells, DNA replication is highly conserved and tightly regulated. Multiple linear chromosomes must be duplicated with high fidelity before cell division, so there are many proteins that fulfill specialized roles in the replication process. Replication occurs in three phases: initiation, elongation, and termination, and ends with two complete sets of chromosomes in the nucleus.
Many Proteins Orchestrate Replication at the Origin
Eukaryotic replication follows many of the same...
Many Proteins Orchestrate Replication at the Origin
Eukaryotic replication follows many of the same...
02:31Replication in Eukaryotes
Overview
02:15Replicative Cell Senescence
Replicative cell senescence is a property of cells that allows them to divide a finite number of times throughout the organism's lifespan while preventing excessive proliferation. Replicative senescence is associated with the gradual loss of the telomere — short, repetitive DNA sequences found at the end of the chromosomes. Telomeres are bound by a group of proteins to form a protective cap on the ends of chromosomes. Embryonic stem cells express telomerase — an enzyme that adds the telomeric...
02:30Histone Variants at the Centromere
Histone variants are the histone proteins with structural and sequence variations. These variants may be regarded as “mutant” forms that replace their canonical histone counterparts in the nucleosomes. Specific post-translational modifications on the histone variants enable further chromatin complexity and regulate tissue-specific gene expression. The most common histone variants are from histone H2A, H2B, and linker histone H1 families. However, several variants of histone H3 variants are also...