Work

Alternative lengthening of telomeres in normal mammalian somatic cells

Year: 2013

Type: preprint

Abstract: Some cancers use alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT), a mechanism whereby new telomeric DNA is synthesized from a DNA template. To determine whether normal mammalian tissues have ALT activity, we generated a mouse strain containing a DNA tag in a single telomere. We found that the tagged telomere was copied by other telomeres in somatic tissues but not the germline. The tagged telomere was also copied by other telomeres when introgressed into CAST/EiJ mice, which have telomeres more similar in length to those of humans. We conclude that ALT activity occurs in normal mouse somatic tissues.

Source: Genes & Development

DOI: 10.1101/gad.205062.112

Authors: Axel A. Neumann, Catherine M. Watson, Jane R. Noble, Hilda A. Pickett, Patrick P.L. Tam, Roger R. Reddel

Institutions: The University of Sydney, Children's Medical Research Institute

Language: English

Topic: Telomeres, Telomerase, and Senescence

Subfield: Cell Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: Boehringer Ingelheim Japan, Medical Research Council, National Health and Medical Research Council, Cancer Council NSW