Telomeres and Diseases Related to Telomeres

Abstract

Telomeres are non-coding DNA regions present at the ends of chromosomes and help in proper sealing of chromosomes at the ends after replication. The main function that telomeres  serve is to protect the coding DNA of the genome. A telomere dictates the cell’s life span and whenever the length of the telomere shortens to minimal lengths, the cell senesces. Over the years various studies have reported that telomeres are linked to numerous diseases, but the exact mechanism that could explain how telomeres cause diseases still remains a mystery and further the use of medicine that could prevent telomere erosion are still up for debate. Various diseases particularly age related diseases are associated with telomeres. The molecular cause of diseases that is related to telomeres could be due to inadequate telomere repair and accelerated telomere attrition and by targeting these processes may led to the development of novel therapies.

   In this review we have focused on role of telomeres in age related diseases. Further we have discussed about telomeres and  telomerases as therapeutic targets for some age related diseases.