Abrupt telomere shortening in normal human fibroblasts. 2010

Nikolina Skrobot Vidacek, and Andrea Cukusić, and Milena Ivanković, and Hrvoje Fulgosi, and Miljenko Huzak, and James R Smith, and Ivica Rubelj
Department of Molecular Biology, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Ruder Bosković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.

Aging is one of the most basic properties of living organisms. Abundant evidence supports the idea that cell senescence underlies organismal aging in higher mammals. Therefore, examining the molecular mechanisms that control cell and replicative senescence is of great interest for biology and medicine. Several discoveries strongly support telomere shortening as the main molecular mechanism that limits the growth of normal cells. Although cultures gradually approach their growth limit, appearance of individual senescent cells is sudden and stochastic. A theoretical model of abrupt telomere shortening has been proposed in order to explain this phenomenon, but until now there was no reliable experimental evidence supporting this idea. Here, we have employed novel methodology to provide evidence for the generation of extrachromosomal circular telomeric DNA as a result of abrupt telomere shortening in normal human fibroblasts. This mechanism ensures heterogeneity in growth potential among individual cells, which is crucial for gradual progression of the aging process.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008854 Microscopy, Electron Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen. Electron Microscopy
D002478 Cells, Cultured Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others. Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D005347 Fibroblasts Connective tissue cells which secrete an extracellular matrix rich in collagen and other macromolecules. Fibroblast
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D016615 Telomere A terminal section of a chromosome which has a specialized structure and which is involved in chromosomal replication and stability. Its length is believed to be a few hundred base pairs. Telomeres
D016922 Cellular Senescence Process by which cells irreversibly stop dividing and enter a state of permanent growth arrest without undergoing CELL DEATH. Senescence can be induced by DNA DAMAGE or other cellular stresses, such as OXIDATIVE STRESS. Aging, Cell,Cell Aging,Cell Senescence,Replicative Senescence,Senescence, Cellular,Senescence, Replicative,Cell Ageing,Cellular Ageing,Cellular Aging,Ageing, Cell,Ageing, Cellular,Aging, Cellular,Senescence, Cell
D017404 In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence A type of IN SITU HYBRIDIZATION in which target sequences are stained with fluorescent dye so their location and size can be determined using fluorescence microscopy. This staining is sufficiently distinct that the hybridization signal can be seen both in metaphase spreads and in interphase nuclei. FISH Technique,Fluorescent in Situ Hybridization,Hybridization in Situ, Fluorescence,FISH Technic,Hybridization in Situ, Fluorescent,In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescent,FISH Technics,FISH Techniques,Technic, FISH,Technics, FISH,Technique, FISH,Techniques, FISH

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