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Structure and function of telomeres

Nature volume 350, pages 569–573 (1991)Cite this article

Abstract

The DNA of telomeres—the terminal DNA-protein complexes of chromosomes—differs notably from other DNA sequences in both structure and function. Recent work has highlighted its remarkable mode of synthesis by the ribonucleoprotein reverse transcriptase, telomerase1–4, as well as its ability to form unusual structures in vitro. Moreover, telomere synthesis by telomerase has been shown to be essential for telomere maintenance and long-term viability.

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  1. Departments of Microbiology and Immunology and Biochemistry and Biophysics, Box 0414, San Francisco, California, 94143, USA

    Elizabeth H. Blackburn

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Blackburn, E. Structure and function of telomeres. Nature 350, 569–573 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/350569a0

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