Molecular and cellular evidence for the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) mechanism in chicken.

ABSTRACT: Telomere maintenance is an important genetic mechanism controlling cellular proliferation. Normally, telomeres are maintained by telomerase which is downregulated upon cellular differentiation in most somatic cell lineages. Telomerase activity is upregulated in immortalized cells and cancers to support an infinite lifespan and uncontrolled cell growth; however, some immortalized and transformed cells lack telomerase activity. Telomerase-negative tumors and immortalized cells utilize an alternative mechanism for maintaining telomeres termed alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). This research explored evidence for the ALT pathway in chicken cell lines by studying nontransformed immortalized cell lines (DF-1 and OU2) and comparing them to a normal (mortal) cell line and a transformed ce

SUBMITTER: O'Hare TH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3214677 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature