NEWS

Telomere extension technology granted US patent

Release time:

2017-04-26 14:39

Telomeres (English name: Telomeres) are found in eukaryotic cells. They are a small segment of DNA-protein complex at the end of linear chromosomes. In normal human cells, they can gradually shorten with cell division. There is a strong link between the gradual inactivation of telomeres and aging and the occurrence of disease. Scientists have found that in mice with human heart disease, the shortening of telomerase can lead to out-of-control fluctuations in the heart's calcium signal, which in turn has fatal serious consequences.

An invention by the Telomere and Aging Research Group of the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, after obtaining a Chinese invention patent, recently officially obtained the US International Patent Authorization (Patent No. 9505815). The patent inventors are Tan Zheng, Zhao Yong, Wang Feng, and Hao Yuhua. Human aging is accompanied by the shortening of telomeres and the decline of cell division ability. The maintenance of telomere length is a necessary condition for maintaining cell division ability, so telomere is compared to "the clock of life". Three American scientists, Elizabeth Blackburn, Carol Greyde and Jack Szostak, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine in 2009 for their discovery of the mechanism by which telomeres are lost and lengthened.

Prolonging telomeres can improve and enhance cell proliferation activity, maintain the young state of cells, and delay cell aging. Experiments show that extending telomeres can prolong the life of cells, delay the aging of mice, and prolong the life of mice. Experiments have also shown that extending telomeres is beneficial to human health. The patent provides an effective and controlled technique for lengthening telomeres in mammalian cells, avoiding the possible carcinogenic or other risks associated with direct activation of telomerase. The patent can be applied to any field that needs to maintain, improve and enhance cell proliferation activity, such as immune cell amplification for cell therapy of cancer, cell therapy of other diseases, anti-aging health care beauty, stem cells, animal cloning and other applications and scientific research.

News source:http://news.bioon.com/article/6702328.html

This news was re-edited and reorganized by the Huaxun team and added analytical comments.