Question

Discuss the relationship between cancer and telomerase activities. Summarize the experimental evidence that suggests telomerase activities are important for cancer cells.   Discuss the role of p53 and telomerase activities are related.

Answer 1

Telomeres are the structures that caps all the eukaryotic chromosomes, they are the repetitive DNA sequences
at the ends of our chromosomes,they protect the Nucleotides during the replication ,they dictate the ability of the cells to divide.

Telomeres ,these are part of linear chromosome but cannot be replicated by DNA polymerase,hence for every replication the telomeric ends shortens finally leads to senescence .

Dysfunctional telomeres are recognized as damaged DNA it activates p53, p53 ia a checkpoint ,its role in conserving stability by preventing genome mutationis,leading to apoptosis.

Telomere length is the indication of the age and health of an individual.

Telomerase is an RNA dependent enzyme adds telomeres to the end of the eukaryotic chromosomes,it activity is not seen in the somatic cells but it activity is largely seen in the cancerous cells.

Cancer cells have high levels of telomerase activity and they divide indefinitely and are immortal.

There is the reactivation of telomerase enzyme in the cancerous cells ,which is essential for the cancer cells to grow,90%of the cancers reactivate telomerase.Cancer cells have to maintain telomeric lenghth to multiply rapidly and to become invasive,

Hence the telomerase is targeted for the cancer treatment ,by inhibiting the telomerase enzyme activity the cancerous cells are no more multiplied ,which leads to shortening of the telomeres finally activates the p53 leading to death of cancer cells.Telomerase inhibition remains a promising strategy for cancer treatment.