端粒和端粒酶在生殖领域的研究进展

Application of telomere and telomerase in reproduction

端粒是染色体末端的DNA-蛋白质复合体,端粒的长度决定了细胞的寿命;端粒酶是具有延长端粒长度的逆转录酶。外周血白细胞及人类生殖系细胞中都有端粒及端粒酶活性的表达。研究显示端粒及端粒酶活性与胚胎发育异常及不孕不育有关,明确端粒、端粒酶与不孕不育的关系可为一些疾病的治疗带来指导意义。本文就端粒及端粒酶在生殖领域研究进展方面作一综述。

Telomeres are DNA-protein complexes at the ends of chromosomes.Telomerase is a reverse transcriptase that can prolong the length of telomeres.Telomere and telomerase activity are found to be expressed in peripheral blood leukocytes and human germline cells.Moreover,they have been found to be associated with infertility related diseases and abnormal embryonic development.It is of guiding significance to clarify the relationship between telomerase and infertility for the treatment of some diseases.We reviewed the research progress of telomeres and telomerase in the field of human reproduction.