Telomeres

What are they?

Why are telomeres important?

Telomere shortening - the end replication problem

How do immortal cells avoid telomere loss (i.e. solve the end replication problem)?

Telomerase = the key to replicative immortality

Telomere Hypothesis of Aging

Telomerase: Useful for expanding cells for medical use

Telomerase Inhibitors: Useful for inhibiting or killing tumor cells

Summary

Dr. Campisi's diagrams from last year's lecture: Campisi diagrams from February 2000