Unravelling the Intricacies of Telomere Replication: A Molecular Conundrum

Abstract

Telomeres are specialized structures at the ends of linear chromosomes that protect them from degradation and fusion. It’s replication is a complex process that involves both DNA polymerases and a specialized enzyme called telomerase which is a ribonucleoprotein complex that synthesizes telomeric DNA by using an internal RNA template. However, telomerase alone cannot fully replicate the telomeric DNA, and requires the cooperation of other factors, such as shelterin, CST, and DNA repair proteins. Telomere replication is tightly regulated by various mechanisms, such as cell cycle checkpoints, telomere length homeostasis, and telomere position effect and dysregulation of it can lead to genomic instability, cellular senescence, and cancer. Therefore, understanding the molecular details of telomere replication is crucial for elucidating the role of telomeres in aging and disease.