Telomerase regulation and stem cell behaviour

Telomerase expression is restricted to a few cell types of the adult organism, most notably germ cells and stem/progenitor cells. Telomerase activity in germ cells is sufficient to prevent telomere shortening with age. Stem cells, however, do not have sufficient telomerase to prevent telomere shortening associated with continuous tissue renewal with increasing age. Indeed, telomerase levels in the adult organism are thought to be rate-limiting...