Work

Ribosomal RNA gene repeats, their stability and cellular senescence

Year: 2014

Type: review

Abstract: The ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) repeats form a historically well-researched region in the chromosome. Their highly repetitive structure can be identified easily which has enabled studies on DNA replication, recombination, and transcription. The region is one of the most unstable regions in the genome because of deleterious recombination among the repeats. The ribosomal RNA gene repeats use a unique gene amplification system to restore the copy number after this has been reduced due to recombination. It has been shown that unstable features in the genome can accelerate cellular senescence that restricts the lifespan of a cell. Here, I will introduce a study by our group that shows how the stability of rDNA is maintained and affects lifespan. I propose that the ribosomal RNA gene repeats constitute a center from which the stability of the whole genome is regulated and the lifespan of the cell is controlled.

Source: Proceedings of the Japan Academy Series B

DOI: 10.2183/pjab.90.119

Author: Takehiko KOBAYASHI

Institutions: National Institute of Genetics, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI

Language: English

Topic: Telomeres, Telomerase, and Senescence

Subfield: Cell Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

Award: G8444323852