Targeting Telomeres to Treat Diseases

Telomeres are the end caps of chromosomes, protecting the DNA complexes from deterioration during cell division. Telomere shortening is considered a marker of cellular aging, and prematurely shortened telomeres have been linked to increased risk of cancers, heart disease, dementia and death.  Paula Martínez, from the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncologicas (CNIO; Spain), and colleagues review the importance of the proper replication of the telomeric DNA – particularly in regard to recently identified proteins, such as shelterin, that function as an accessory factor involved in telomere length regulation, protection of telomeres from nuclease degradation, control of DNA damage response at telomeres, and the recruitment of associated factors required for telomere DNA processing and replication.