German scientists have discovered the mechanism by which cells repair chromosome telomeres.

German scientists recently discovered that if telomeres at both ends of chromosomes are shortened or damaged prematurely, cells initiate a repair mechanism that prevents them from aging prematurely.
discovery will help to better understand cell aging, human aging, and cancer.
chromosomes are long strands of DNA (deoxyriucleic acid) molecules, just like shoelaces, where telomeres are plastic heads at both ends of the shoelaces that prevent them from being corded off.
the cell divides, the telomeres become shorter, the protective power decreases, and the cells stop dividing and die when they are short.
telomeres can cause cells to age, but if not changed short, cells will divide indefinitely and become cancerous.
, telomeres are shortened according to normal procedures, maintaining a balance between cell proliferation and cancer prevention.
if an unexpected event causes telomeres to become shorter prematurely, they need to be repaired to prevent premature cell aging.
researchers at the German Institute of Molecular Biology and Johannes Guttenberg University found that at the heart of the repair mechanism is a molecule called TERRA's RNA (RNA).
researchers report in a new issue of the American Journal of Cells that TERRA molecules are a sophisticated regulatory mechanism that affects the life cycle of cells.
The molecule accumulates on the telomeres, and if the telomeres are longer, two specific proteins bind to them to remove the TERRA molecule, and if the telomeres are particularly short, the two proteins will not bind to it, and the TERRA molecule can stay longer, which is a signal for cells that need to repair telomeres."
this repair mechanism ensures subsequent repair of short telomeres, which is key to cell survival and division.
the study was conducted using yeast, and since all complex organisms have telomeres and TERRA molecules, the researchers believe the repair mechanism should also apply to humans.
they will then study human cells to see how the mechanism is linked to aging and cancer.
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