Source: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
Date: June 27, 2012
Summary:
Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics have gained important insights for stem cell research which are also applicable to human tumours and could lead to the development of new treatments. Researchers discovered a molecular link exists between the telomerase that determines the length of the telomeres and a signalling pathway known as the Wnt/β-signalling pathway.
The researchers demonstrated that β-catenin regulates the telomerase gene directly, and has explained the molecular mechanism at work here. Embryonic stem cells with mutated β-catenin generate more telomerase and have extended telomeres, while cells without β-catenin have low levels of telomerase and have shortened telomeres. This regulation mechanism can also be found in human cancer cells. These discoveries could lead to the development of a new approach to the treatment of human tumours.
