Resumo

HERNANDEZ FERNANDEZ, Rolando A. Telómeros y telomerasas. Rev Cubana Invest Bioméd [online]. 1999, vol.18, n.2, pp.121-129. ISSN 0864-0300.

Telomeres are specialized chromatin structures located in the extremes of eukaryotic chromosomes. Both their DNA and proteins present singular characteristics that differentiate them from the rest of chromosomes. They seem to be involved in a member of cell functions, especially those related to the control of life span of different cell species. These structures replicate in the cell cycle thanks to the activity of telomerases. which are enzimes composed by proteins and RNA with a peculiar mechanism. Recent research works have studied the behaviour of telomerases in cancer cells and their possible diagnostic and therapeutical uses. This paper shows a summary of the main and most recent findings on the structure and functions of telomeres and the action by telomerases.

Palavras-chave : TELOMERASE [physiology]; TELOMERE [physiology]; CELL CYCLE.

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