Telomere shortening associated with chromosome instability is arrested in immortal cells which express telomerase activity

C. M. Counter, A. A. Avilion, C. E. Lefeuvre, N. G. Stewart, C. W. Greider, C. B. Harley, S. Bacchetti

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1873 Scopus citations

Abstract

Loss of telomeric DNA during cell proliferation may play a role in ageing and cancer. Since telomeres permit complete replication of eukaryotic chromosomes and protect their ends from recombination, we have measured telomere length, telomerase activity and chromosome rearrangements in human cells before and after transformation with SV40 or Ad5. In all mortal populations, telomeres shortened by ≃ 65 bp/generation during the lifespan of the cultures. When transformed cells reached crisis, the length of the telomeric TTAGGG repeats was only ≃ 1.5 kbp and many dicentric chromosomes were observed. In immortal cells, telomere length and frequency of dicentric chromosomes stabilized after crisis. Telomerase activity was not detectable in control or extended lifespan populations but was present in immortal populations. These results suggest that chromosomes with short (TTAGGG)(n) tracts are recombinogenic, critically shortened telomeres may be incompatible with cell proliferation and stabilization of telomere length by telomerase may be required for immortalization.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1921-1929
Number of pages9
JournalEMBO Journal
Volume11
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1992
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Chromosome rearrangements
  • Immortality
  • Telomerase
  • Telomeres

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Immunology and Microbiology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Telomere shortening associated with chromosome instability is arrested in immortal cells which express telomerase activity'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this