Scientists may have discovered that long telomeres – the DNA endcaps – are not the fountains of youth as once believed.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine say that in a study of 17 individuals from five different families, they discovered that ultra-long DNA endcaps known as telomeres do not provide the longevity expected for these people. People with long telomeres are more likely to develop benign or cancerous tumors as well as clonal hemopoiesis, an age-related blood disorder.
The Johns Hopkins researchers report in the New England Journal of Medicine’s May 4 issue that clonal hemopoiesis occurs in this group of people with long telomeres. This blood condition, combined with the long telomeres, may help mutations stay longer in blood cells.
Mary Armanios M.D. is a professor of oncology and molecular biology at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and pathology and genetics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Long telomeres did not protect against aging. Instead, they allowed cells to have mutations that occur with ageing.
Source:
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-05-telomeres-endcaps-dna-fountain-youth.html
