Research Progress on Structure and Functions of Telomere

Telomeres, as a special structures capping eukaryotic chromosome ends, composed of telomeric DNA and telomere-associated protein, being used to keep the structural stability and function of the chromosomes, and protect them from digestions, end - to - end fusions, rearrangements, and so on. ALT and TA mechanisms are dominant maintenance mechanisms of the telomere length. The maintenance of telomere length and the utilization of the telomerase played a key role in the control of the aging. Research developments on structure of the telomere, mechanism of telomere maintenance and relation between the telomere and aging are systematically discussed. Besides, some personal, views were proposed in the review according to the problems existing in the relative fields at present.