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 Concept Videos

Telomeres and Telomerase02:41

Telomeres and Telomerase

25.0K
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...
25.0K
Replicative Cell Senescence02:15

Replicative Cell Senescence

3.9K
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...
3.9K
Replication in Eukaryotes01:29

Replication in Eukaryotes

15.4K
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...
15.4K
Microtubule Instability02:17

Microtubule Instability

5.4K
Microtubules are hollow cylindrical filaments having a diameter of approximately 25 nm and a length that varies from 200 nm to 25 μm. GTP-bound tubulin subunits form αβ-heterodimers for microtubule assembly. These core building blocks interact longitudinally, polymerizing into protofilaments. The protofilaments then interact with one another through lateral bonding forces to form stable cylindrical microtubules. These cylindrical filaments are dynamic as they undergo repeated...
5.4K
Spontaneous and Induced Mutations01:30

Spontaneous and Induced Mutations

354
Spontaneous mutations arise infrequently during DNA replication due to errors in the process. A key factor behind these errors is tautomeric shifts in nitrogenous bases, where bases transition from keto to enol forms or amino to imino forms. This shift can alter base-pairing rules, leading to mutations. Additionally, reactive oxygen species (ROS) arising from aerobic metabolism can damage DNA, resulting in depurination (loss of a purine base) or depyrimidination (loss of a pyrimidine base).
354
Mutations01:35

Mutations

41.5K
Mutations are changes in the sequence of DNA. These changes can occur spontaneously or they can be induced by exposure to environmental factors. Mutations can be characterized in a number of different ways: whether and how they alter the amino acid sequence of the protein, whether they occur over a small or large area of DNA, and whether they occur in somatic cells or germline cells.
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
41.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Context-dependent telomere dynamics in wild fish populations under anthropogenic stress.

Environmental science and pollution research international·2026
Same author

The antineoplastic agent streptozotocin induces short-term telomere instability in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed human lymphoblastoid cells.

Experimental cell research·2026
Same author

Bleomycin induces short-term telomere fragility in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed human lymphoblastoid cells.

Mutation research. Genetic toxicology and environmental mutagenesis·2025
Same author

Age and growth patterns of the ten spotted live-bearing fish (Cnesterodon decemmaculatus) along a polluted freshwater system.

Journal of fish biology·2024
Same author

Bleomycin-induced chromosomal aberrations in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed human lymphoblastoid cells.

Mutation research. Genetic toxicology and environmental mutagenesis·2024
Same author

Considerations on the scoring of telomere aberrations in vertebrate cells detected by telomere or telomere plus centromere PNA-FISH.

Mutation research. Reviews in mutation research·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 22, 2025

Utilizing Murine Inducible Telomerase Alleles in the Studies of Tissue Degeneration/Regeneration and Cancer
08:34

Utilizing Murine Inducible Telomerase Alleles in the Studies of Tissue Degeneration/Regeneration and Cancer

Published on: April 13, 2015

10.5K

Mutagen-induced telomere instability in human cells.

Alejandro D Bolzán1

  • 1Laboratorio de Citogenética y Mutagénesis, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular (IMBICE, CONICET-CICPBA-UNLP), calle 526 y Camino General Belgrano, B1906APO La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, calle 60 y 122, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Mutation Research. Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis
|August 29, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Telomere instability, a key driver of genome instability, arises from chromosome end loss or telomere dysfunction. Studying its induction by mutagens in human cells is crucial for understanding genomic instability.

Keywords:
Human telomeresIncomplete chromosome elementsMutagensTelomere dysfunctionTelomere loss

More Related Videos

Generation of Cancer Cell Clones to Visualize Telomeric Repeat-containing RNA TERRA Expressed from a Single Telomere in Living Cells
09:13

Generation of Cancer Cell Clones to Visualize Telomeric Repeat-containing RNA TERRA Expressed from a Single Telomere in Living Cells

Published on: January 17, 2019

7.5K
Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity; A Yin and Yang of Cell Senescence
12:08

Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity; A Yin and Yang of Cell Senescence

Published on: May 22, 2013

46.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 22, 2025

Utilizing Murine Inducible Telomerase Alleles in the Studies of Tissue Degeneration/Regeneration and Cancer
08:34

Utilizing Murine Inducible Telomerase Alleles in the Studies of Tissue Degeneration/Regeneration and Cancer

Published on: April 13, 2015

10.5K
Generation of Cancer Cell Clones to Visualize Telomeric Repeat-containing RNA TERRA Expressed from a Single Telomere in Living Cells
09:13

Generation of Cancer Cell Clones to Visualize Telomeric Repeat-containing RNA TERRA Expressed from a Single Telomere in Living Cells

Published on: January 17, 2019

7.5K
Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity; A Yin and Yang of Cell Senescence
12:08

Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity; A Yin and Yang of Cell Senescence

Published on: May 22, 2013

46.8K

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Telomere instability is a primary contributor to genome instability.
  • Telomere dysfunction, where telomeres lose their protective function or shorten critically, mimics DNA double-strand breaks.
  • This instability can manifest at chromosomal or molecular levels, affecting telomere structure and components.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on telomere instability.
  • To explore how physical, chemical, and biological mutagens induce telomere instability in human cells.
  • To understand the role of telomeres in mutagen-induced genomic instability.

Main Methods:

  • This review synthesizes existing research on telomere instability.
  • Focuses on studies involving human cells exposed to various mutagens.
  • Examines both chromosomal and molecular aspects of telomere instability.

Main Results:

  • Telomere dysfunction is a more frequent cause of telomere instability than chromosome end loss.
  • Mutagens can induce telomere instability through physical, chemical, or biological mechanisms.
  • Telomere instability contributes significantly to overall genomic instability in exposed cells.

Conclusions:

  • Telomeres are critical for maintaining genome stability.
  • Understanding mutagen-induced telomere instability is vital for assessing genotoxic risks.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms and consequences of telomere instability.