Telomere associated gene expression as well as TERT protein level and telomerase activity are altered in the ovarian follicles of aged mice

• Published in: Scientific reports 2021-07, Vol.11 (1), p.15569-15569, Article 15569
• Main Authors: Kosebent, Esra Gozde, Ozturk, Saffet
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/80; 631/80/509; Aging; Chromosomes; DNA biosynthesis; Embryos; Fertility; Follicles; Gene expression; Genotoxicity; Humanities and Social Sciences; Infertility; Life span; Molecular modelling; multidisciplinary; Ovaries; Proteins; RNA-directed DNA polymerase; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Stem cell transplantation; Stem cells; Telomerase; Telomerase reverse transcriptase; Telomere-binding protein; Telomeres; TRF2 protein
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95239-5

Telomeres cap the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes to maintain genomic stability and integrity during an organism’s lifespan. The length of telomeres inevitably shortens due to DNA replication, genotoxic agents, and biological aging. A limited number of cell types, e.g., stem cells, germline cells, and early embryos can elongate shortened telomeres via the enzymatic action of telomerase, which is composed of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and telomerase RNA component ( Terc ). Additionally, telomere-associated proteins including telomeric repeat binding factor 1 (TRF1) and 2 (TRF2), as well as protection of telomeres 1a (POT1a), bind to telomeres to maintain their structural integrity and length. During ovarian aging in mammals, telomeres progressively shorten, accompanied by fertility loss; however, the molecular mechanism underlying this attrition during follicle development remains unclear. In this study, the primary, secondary, preantral, and antral follicles were obtained either from 6-week-old adult (n = 19) or 52-week-old aged (n = 12) mice. We revealed that the Tert , Terc , Trf1 , Trf2 , and Pot1a gene expression ( P