Near-infrared probe decodes telomere dynamics
A new synthetic probe provides a simple and safe way to visualize chromosome tips within living cells. Scientists at the Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Science, (iCeMS), and their colleagues from Kyoto University designed the probe. It could help advance research on aging, cancer, and other diseases. Details were published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
Hiroshi Sugyama, a chemical biologist at iCeMS and the lead author of the study, said: \”Chromosomes are always in danger of degrading and fusing, so they’re protected by structures known as telomeres. Telomeres are composed of long, repeating DNA sequences with bound proteins.\” If telomeres are damaged, they cannot maintain chromosome integrity, leading to cancer and other diseases. Telomeres are also shortened with every cell division, until they reach a limit that causes cell death.
Understanding the importance of telomeres in disease and aging is possible by visualizing their physical arrangement, particularly their real-time arrangements. There are several visualization methods, but each has its own disadvantages. Some visualization methods can only see telomeres on fixed or preserved cells. Some are laborious or require harsh treatments to denature DNA.
Source:
https://phys.org/news/2020-11-near-infrared-probe-decodes-telomere-dynamics.html
