Shukla Samarth, Acharya Sourya, Rajput Devendra, Vagha S, Grover Shobha
Dept. of Pathology, JNMC, DMIMS.
J Assoc Physicians India. 2010 Sep;58:553-60.
Besides forming a very important component of the chromosome, the telomeres have extremely significant modes of action and functions, right from maintaining a basic infrastructure and integrity of the chromosome vis a vis the other chromosomes, telomeres are responsible for the cell divisions and replicative senescence of the cell. The number of mitotic divisions which a cell will go through in its life span while passing through the cell cycle is governed inturn by these telomeres, the crux of the entire functioning of these chromosomal components suggests that they are the ticking clocks of the cell and when they diminish or are worn out so does the cell reach it's senility at the fag end of it's replicative life--resulting fate being--the cell is sent to it's grave yard (the final destination). Clinical implications include--regulation of cell life spans, regulating the cell's replicative behavior and it's utility in forming cells which usually are impossible to divide or replicate, telomeres regulate the cloning process,the telomeres play a major role in predicting the fate of a neoplastic cell and finally enhancing the life span of a single cell, the organ, the body as a whole by enzymes which expand the telomeres--the telomerase.
除了构成染色体的一个非常重要的组成部分外，端粒还具有极其重要的作用方式和功能。从维持染色体相对于其他染色体的基本结构和完整性开始，端粒负责细胞分裂和细胞的复制性衰老。细胞在其生命周期中经历细胞周期时所经历的有丝分裂次数反过来由这些端粒控制。这些染色体成分整个功能的关键表明，它们是细胞的生物钟，当它们减少或磨损时，细胞在其复制生命的末期也会达到衰老状态——最终的命运是——细胞被送入它的墓地（最终目的地）。临床意义包括——调节细胞寿命、调节细胞的复制行为以及它在形成通常无法分裂或复制的细胞中的作用，端粒调节克隆过程，端粒在预测肿瘤细胞的命运以及最终通过扩展端粒的酶（端粒酶）延长单个细胞、器官、整个身体的寿命方面发挥着重要作用。
