Telomeres 

A number of studies have shown that [|oxidative stress] —a condition where damaging molecules known as [|free radicals] build up inside cell—accelerates telomere shortening. Free radicals can damage not only the DNA that make up telomeres, but also the DNA building blocks used to extend them.

Oxidative stress is known to play a role in many [|health conditions], including inflammation and cancer. Damage from free radicals, which can be generated by inflammation in the body as well as environmental factors, is thought to build up throughout the aging process.

The goal of the new study was to determine what happens to telomeres when they are damaged by oxidative stress. The researchers suspected that oxidative damage would render telomerase unable to do its job.

"Much to our surprise, telomerase could lengthen telomeres with oxidative damage," Dr. Opresko said. "In fact, the damage seems to promote telomere lengthening."

Next, the team looked to see what would happen if the building blocks used to make up telomeres were instead subjected to oxidative damage. They found that telomerase was able to add a damaged DNA precursor molecule to the end of the telomere, but was then unable to add additional DNA molecules.

The new results suggest that the mechanism by which oxidative stress accelerates telomere shortening is by damaging the DNA precursor molecules, not the telomere itself. "We also found that oxidation of the DNA building blocks is a new way to inhibit telomerase activity, which is important because it could potentially be used to treat cancer."

Dr. Opresko

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2016-11-uncover-key-mechanisms-cancer-aging.html

Blackburn was honored for her work discovering telomeres and the telomerase enzyme, now known to play important roles in how and why cells degrade as we age. http://www.ucsf.edu/news/2015/01/122766/oddball-organism-helped-win-nobel-prize

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-01-telomere-extension-aging-clock-cultured.html#ajTabs

Microbe with Seven Sexes http://lifescitpjhs.wikispaces.com/Microbe+with+two+nuclei+and+seven+sexes

DNA Chromosomes

Anti-Aging Drugs https://newsela.com/articles/dogs-lives/id/5911/