Dyskeratosis congenita, telomeres and human ageing

Authors
Marciniak, RA Johnson, FB Guarente, L
Citation
Ra. Marciniak et al., Dyskeratosis congenita, telomeres and human ageing, TRENDS GEN, 16(5), 2000, pp. 193-195
Citations number
32
Categorie Soggetti
Molecular Biology & Genetics
Journal title
TRENDS IN GENETICS
ISSN journal
01689525 → ACNP
Volume
16
Issue
5
Year of publication
2000
Pages
193 - 195
Database
ISI
SICI code
0168-9525(200005)16:5<193:DCTAHA>2.0.ZU;2-V
Abstract
As normal humans age, telomeres shorten in tissues that contain dividing ce lls, and this has been proposed both as a cause of ageing and as a tumor-su ppressor mechanism. The surprising finding that cells from individuals with the rare inherited disorder dyskeratosis congenita (DKC) have reduced leve ls of telomerase and shortened telomeres might provide the first direct gen etic test of the function of telomeres in intact humans.