Telomere and Telomerase biology and its relation to aging process The significance of

Telomeres, found at eukaryotic chromosome ends, are made up of tandem DNA repeats(TTAGGG repeats). Telomere is heterochromatic domain and protect the chromosome end from rearrangement, end to end fusion and degradation. In most cells, the number of telomeric repeats is reduced with each cell cycle division. If telomeres are ever completely lost, the exposed chromosome ends are recognized as damaged DNA, activating a DNA damage response that can eventually lead to senescence or apoptosis. Telomerase - the enzyme that maintains telomere length in cells - counteracts telomere erosion and provides some somatic cells an unlimited proliferative potential in vitro.full Investigation of the association between telomere and telomerase can make useful contribution to prevention from human aging , aging syndromes and age related diseases. Keywords: Telomere, Telomerase, Aging syndromes, Aging process,