The Roles of Telomeres and Telomerase in Early Developmental Processes and Cancer Development
A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2021) | Viewed by 2649
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Telomere and telomerase have received a great amount of attention from many researchers, as they play important roles in replicative senescence and aging, which are closely related to cancer transformation. Telomere caps chromosome ends to keep genomic integrity from incomplete DNA replication. Since any recombination or fusion of telomeres could trigger deleterious outcomes, mammalian cells have multiple safety measures, such as shelterin complexes and looping structures. Recent reports also suggest that telomeric heterochromatin could regulate distal gene expression via changes in genome architecture.
Telomerase extends telomeric repeats so that enzymatic activity is indispensable in the propagation of cancer cells and extensive cell divisions in early development. While telomerase activity is expressed during the first trimester in human development, it is not precisely known what causes its repression in somatic cells. It is largely unknown what cis- and trans-acting factors could regulate transcription and post-transcriptional regulation of the TERT. Reactivation telomerase or ALT (alternative lengthening of telomeres) still await extensive studies for understanding and therapeutic intervention of cancer.
For this Special Issue, we will cover the biology of the telomere in early developmental processes and cancer development. Regulation of telomere during aging will also be discussed. This Special Issue also invites studies on transcription and post-transcriptional regulation of TERT as well as post-translational regulation of telomerase activity. Mechanistic insights into telomerase reactivation and ALT will also be covered in this Special Issue.
Dr. Wanil Kim
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- telomere
- telomerase
- alternative lengthening of telomeres
- replicative senescence
- telomerase reactivation
