The Association Between Telomeres, Telomerase, Cancer and Aging

Telomere is physically terminal of linear chromosomes composed of a non-coding sequence. Mammalian telomeres consist of a variable number of repeated sequences (TTAAGGG) that is added by telomerase to the 3'' end of chromosomes. Telomeres pro-tect chromosomes from degradation، chro-mosome attachment to chromosomes and prevent other forms of defective reco-mbination. Despite the contradictory role of telomerase dysfunction in specific genetic diseases، association between telomere dys-function with aging is now open for disc-ussion. The most common way for cancer cells to achieve their specific development into tumor formation is probably through terlomerase activation. Clarify the comple-xities of controlling telomerase may prov-ide a route to target telomerase activity as a routine method of treatment for many pati-ents with cancer and be considered as a target for therapeutics. In this paper، we have a brief look at the structure and fun-ction of telomere and telomerase and then the link between telomerase activity in agi-ng and cancer، and the relationship between different aspects have been investigated in detail. In addition the other roles of telo-merase in the body are discussed. Finally، the use of telomerase as a drug target in cancer therapy has been considered.