Molecular characterisation of telomere trimming and its role in cell proliferative capacity

端粒是染色体末端的保护结构。端粒长度是决定细胞增殖次数的主要因素。我们最近发现了一个快速缩短端粒的过程，我们称之为端粒修剪。我们将分析这一过程的分子细节，以确定它是否可以用来缩短端粒并阻止癌细胞增殖，以及阻断它是否可以增加短端粒综合征患者的细胞增殖。

Telomeres are protective structures at the ends of chromosomes. Telomere length is a major determinant of how many times a cell can proliferate. We have recently discovered a rapid telomere shortening process that we have called telomere trimming. We will analyse the molecular details of this process to determine whether it could be used to shorten telomeres and stop cancer cell proliferation, and whether blocking it could increase cell proliferation in patients with short telomere syndromes.