If you aren’t familiar with Nobel Prize winner Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn‘s work with telomeres and telomerase, I suggest looking her up. To give some background information, telomeres are a repetitive sequence of DNA at the end of chromosomes that depletes naturally over time. They have been likened to the protective plastic at the end of a shoelace.
Dr. Blackburn gave a fascinating talk on Sunday at the AACR annual meeting about the relationship of telomere maintenance in aging and cancer. She has shown that low levels of the enzyme telomerase results in shorter telomeres which in turn correlates with diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis, cardiovascular disease, impaired immune function, cancer, and even obesity.
Telomere length and telomerase levels are intricately entwined with major age-related diseases and “healthspan,” the length of time one lives without disease. Dr. Blackburn’s work promises to hold insight into our constant battle against cancer and aging.
[photo credit: Singularity Hub]
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