Telomeres and telomerase

Chan, Simon R. W. L.; Blackburn, Elizabeth H.

doi:10.1098/rstb.2003.1370

Cited by 453 publications

(345 citation statements)

References 84 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

338

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Much attention has also recently been given to the role of telomere shortening as a causative factor in aging/senescence (22,23). Telomeres are stretches of repetitive DNA of tandem short sequence repeats (TTAGGG) that "cap" the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes to protect against degradation.…”

Section: Ros Telomeres and Agingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oxidative stress: molecular perception and transduction of signals triggering antioxidant gene defenses

2005

Braz J Med Biol Res

974

470

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Molecular oxygen (O 2 ) is the premier biological electron acceptor that serves vital roles in fundamental cellular functions. However, with the beneficial properties of O 2 comes the inadvertent formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide (O 2 •-), hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radical (OH • ). If unabated, ROS pose a serious threat to or cause the death of aerobic cells. To minimize the damaging effects of ROS, aerobic organisms evolved non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidant defenses. The latter include catalases, peroxidases, superoxide dismutases, and glutathione S-transferases (GST). Cellular ROS-sensing mechanisms are not well understood, but a number of transcription factors that regulate the expression of antioxidant genes are well characterized in prokaryotes and in yeast. In higher eukaryotes, oxidative stress responses are more complex and modulated by several regulators. In mammalian systems, two classes of transcription factors, nuclear factor κB and activator protein-1, are involved in the oxidative stress response. Antioxidant-specific gene induction, involved in xenobiotic metabolism, is mediated by the "antioxidant responsive element" (ARE) commonly found in the promoter region of such genes. ARE is present in mammalian GST, metallothioneine-I and MnSod genes, but has not been found in plant Gst genes. However, ARE is present in the promoter region of the three maize catalase (Cat) genes. In plants, ROS have been implicated in the damaging effects of various environmental stress conditions. Many plant defense genes are activated in response to these conditions, including the three maize Cat and some of the superoxide dismutase (Sod) genes. Correspondence

show abstract

Section: Ros Telomeres and Agingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oxidative stress: molecular perception and transduction of signals triggering antioxidant gene defenses

2005

Braz J Med Biol Res

974

470

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Telomeres are repeated sections of DNA that, along with associated proteins, ensure the integrity of the ends of chromosomes [10]. Telomere length dynamics have been correlated with rates of ageing and can predict future survival [11,12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal variation in telomere length of a hibernating rodent

et al. 2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Small hibernating rodents have greater maximum lifespans and hence appear to age more slowly than similar-sized non-hibernators. We tested for a direct effect of hibernation on somatic maintenance and ageing by measuring seasonal changes in relative telomere length (RTL) in the edible dormouse Glis glis. Average RTL in our population did not change significantly over the hibernation season, and a regression model explaining individual variation in post-hibernation RTL suggested a significant negative effect of the reduction in body mass over the inactive hibernation period (an index of time spent euthermic), supporting the idea that torpor slows ageing. Over the active season, RTL on average decreased in subadults but increased in adults, supporting previous findings of greater telomere shortening at younger ages. Telomere length increase might also have been associated with reproduction, which occurred only in adults. Our study reveals how seasonal changes in physiological state influence the progress of life-history traits, such as somatic maintenance and ageing, in a small hibernating rodent.

show abstract

“…Telomeres are DNA-protein complexes that cap chromosomal ends, promoting chromosomal stability. When cells divide, the telomere is not fully replicated because of limitations of the DNA polymerases in completing the replication of the ends of the linear molecules, leading to telomere shortening with every replication (3). In vitro, when telomeres shorten sufficiently, the cell is arrested into senescence.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Accelerated telomere shortening in response to life stress

Epel

Blackburn

Lin

et al. 2004

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

Self Cite

2,596

1,986

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Numerous studies demonstrate links between chronic stress and indices of poor health, including risk factors for cardiovascular disease and poorer immune function. Nevertheless, the exact mechanisms of how stress gets ''under the skin'' remain elusive. We investigated the hypothesis that stress impacts health by modulating the rate of cellular aging. Here we provide evidence that psychological stress-both perceived stress and chronicity of stress-is significantly associated with higher oxidative stress, lower telomerase activity, and shorter telomere length, which are known determinants of cell senescence and longevity, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy premenopausal women. Women with the highest levels of perceived stress have telomeres shorter on average by the equivalent of at least one decade of additional aging compared to low stress women. These findings have implications for understanding how, at the cellular level, stress may promote earlier onset of age-related diseases.psychological stress ͉ telomere length ͉ telomerase ͉ oxidative stress

show abstract

Telomeres and telomerase

Cited by 453 publications

References 84 publications

Oxidative stress: molecular perception and transduction of signals triggering antioxidant gene defenses

Oxidative stress: molecular perception and transduction of signals triggering antioxidant gene defenses

Seasonal variation in telomere length of a hibernating rodent

Accelerated telomere shortening in response to life stress

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About