TELOMERASE Meaning and
Definition
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Telomerase is an enzyme that is predominantly found in certain types of cells, including embryonic cells and stem cells, as well as in some cancer cells. It is a ribonucleoprotein, consisting of RNA and protein subunits, and plays a vital role in maintaining the length and stability of telomeres, which are protective caps located at the ends of chromosomes.
Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences that act as crucial protective structures during cell replication and division. With each round of replication, telomeres naturally get shorter. Telomerase counteracts this shortening by adding DNA repeats to the ends of chromosomes, thereby preserving their length and function. This helps prevent genetic material loss, chromosomal instability, and deterioration of cellular function.
The primary function of telomerase is to elongate telomeres by catalyzing the addition of repetitive DNA sequences. Its RNA component provides the template for synthesizing these repetitive sequences. In the absence of telomerase activity, telomeres eventually become critically short, leading to cellular senescence or programmed cell death.
The role of telomerase has been extensively studied in the context of aging, cancer, and regenerative medicine. Telomerase activation can be beneficial for certain tissues, such as those with high cell turnover rates, and stem cells that need to maintain their regenerative potential. However, uncontrolled or excessive telomerase activity is associated with the immortality of cancer cells and tumor growth.
Understanding telomerase function and regulation has important implications for potential therapeutic strategies, such as targeting telomerase in cancer cells to inhibit their growth, or manipulating telomerase activity to promote tissue regeneration.
Common Misspellings for TELOMERASE
- relomerase
- felomerase
- gelomerase
- yelomerase
- 6elomerase
- 5elomerase
- twlomerase
- tslomerase
- tdlomerase
- trlomerase
- t4lomerase
- t3lomerase
- tekomerase
- tepomerase
- teoomerase
- telimerase
- telkmerase
- tellmerase
- telpmerase
- telomererase
Etymology of TELOMERASE
The word "telomerase" is derived from "telomere" and "ase".
The term "telomere" is composed of the Greek words "telos" meaning "end" and "meros" meaning "part". Telomeres are the repetitive DNA sequences found at the ends of chromosomes that protect them from degradation and fusion with nearby chromosomes during cell division.
The suffix "-ase" in chemistry typically denotes an enzyme, which is a protein that catalyzes or facilitates chemical reactions. Thus, "telomerase" refers to an enzyme that adds or extends telomeres, specifically the telomeric DNA sequences, to the ends of chromosomes.
Therefore, the etymology of "telomerase" can be understood as an enzyme that acts on telomeres, which are the ends of chromosomes.
Similar spelling word for TELOMERASE
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