Back to glossary
Cell biology

Telomere attrition

DETelomerverkürzung

Reviewed by

Telomere attrition is the progressive shortening of the protective TTAGGG repeat sequences at chromosome ends with each cell division, due to the end-replication problem and oxidative damage. Once telomeres reach a critical length, cells enter replicative senescence or apoptosis via a DNA-damage response. Telomerase, which can extend telomeres, is largely silenced in adult somatic cells. Accelerated attrition is associated with premature ageing syndromes, cardiovascular disease and reduced healthspan.

Sources

  1. López-Otín C, Blasco MA, Partridge L, Serrano M, Kroemer G. (2013). The Hallmarks of Aging. *Cell*doi:10.1016/j.cell.2013.05.039
  2. Epel ES, Blackburn EH, Lin J, Dhabhar FS, Adler NE, Morrow JD, Cawthon RM. (2004). Accelerated telomere shortening in response to life stress. *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA*doi:10.1073/pnas.0407162101