| The PNA sequence TelC, consisting of the repeat motif (CCCTAACCCTAACCCTAA), is a peptide nucleic acid probe that specifically binds to the C-rich telomere sequences of the leading strand of human and other vertebrate chromosomes. In biological research, TelC probes are widely used to investigate telomere length and structure, particularly in aging, cancer, and genomic stability studies. The Reverse Complementary Sequence (5' to 3') is TTAGGGTTAGGGTTAGGG.
Function:
Telomeres are repetitive nucleotide sequences that cap the ends of chromosomes, protecting them from degradation and fusion with neighboring chromosomes. Over time, due to cell division and other factors, telomeres shorten, which is associated with cellular aging. The TelC probe can bind to these C-rich telomeric regions, allowing researchers to visualize and quantify telomere length using techniques such as Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH).
Applications:
1. Telomere Length Analysis: TelC probes are used in quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization (Q-FISH) to measure telomere length in interphase or metaphase chromosomes. This is valuable in cancer research, where telomere shortening can lead to genomic instability.
2. Cellular Aging and Senescence: TelC probes monitor cellular aging processes since telomeres shorten as cells age, providing insights into age-related diseases and conditions like cardiovascular disease or Alzheimer’s.
3. Cancer Research: Telomere dysfunction is critical to cancer progression. Using TelC probes, researchers can assess telomere integrity and telomerase activity in cancerous cells, as telomere maintenance is often dysregulated in tumors.
4. Research on Telomerase Activity: TelC probes are also useful in studying telomerase, the enzyme responsible for maintaining telomere length, particularly in stem cells and cancer cells.
The TelC probe is an essential tool in cytogenetics and cancer research, providing precise, non-invasive telomere length and structure measurements. |
