Beyond telomere length: Uncoupling telomere protection from length regulation in mouse models of telomere biology disorders

Title: Beyond telomere length: Uncoupling telomere protection from length regulation in mouse models of telomere biology disorders

Speaker: Prof Yehuda (Dudy) Tzfati, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Abstract: Telomeres, the complexes that protect the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes, are composed of repetitive DNA sequences bound by specialized proteins; in vertebrate the telomeric TTAGGG repeats are bound by the Shelterin and the CST complexes. Telomeres can form special protective structures such as G-quadruplexes and telomere (t)-loops. With each cell division, telomeres shorten. Upon reaching a critical threshold, they activate DNA damage response causing cell cycle arrest to protect the genome integrity and limit cell proliferation, thus inhibiting cancer, but also accelerating aging-associated pathologies. Paradoxically, short telomeres can also induce genomic instability and increase the risk for cancer transformation. To extend their proliferation capacity, germ cells, stem cells, and most cancers elongate their telomeres by the telomerase a ribonucleoprotein complex. 

The Tzfati laboratory, are studying fundamental question in the telomere field, focusing on the role of the helicase RTEL1 in telomere biology and disease, developing mouse models for telomere biology disorders, investigating Telmoerase RNA structure and function, decoding the role of Telomeres in reproductive aging.