Researchers from La Salle-URL take part in a project to demonstrate the importance of telomeres in stem cells of plants

Monday 4 May 2015. The role of telomeres in mammalian cells has been known for years. We know that these DNA sequences do not code, that they are found at each end of the chromosome, protect these and ensure proper cell division. In addition, "younger" cells have longer telomeres, and as these divide, the telomeres get shorter until they no longer allow new cell divisions. This process of telomere shortening has also been linked to cancer, highlighting the important implications of these structures, not only in ageing but also in the field of oncology and other age-related diseases.

However, little is known up to now about the role played by telomeres in fundamental processes of plant physiology, such as growth. The reason was simple: the necessary tools for visualising and measuring telomeres in these organisms at cellular level had still to be developed.

The team led by researcher Xavier Sevillano, of the La Salle-URL Media Technologies Research Group, participated by developing analysis and image processing technologies that allowed the team of biologists from CRAG, who led the work, to make the pioneering findings presented in this study. These image analysis techniques serve to quantify the presence of telomeres both at cellular level and that of the entire organ, making it possible to reconstruct the internal topology of cells in three dimensions.

According to the researchers who conducted the study, the results will make it possible to investigate why trees can live for thousands of years, and open new avenues for understanding cancer and ageing.

This is the result of many years of research at the forefront of knowledge areas as diverse as biology, engineering and physics, involving the Agrigenomics Research Centre (CRAG), with the Telomeres and Telomerase Group led by Maria Blasco at the National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) and physicists from the University of Barcelona (UB) together with the University of Texas ATM (USA).

More information:
Elisa Alvarez
Press and External Relations
La Salle-URL
Tel. 932 902 386 | ealvarez@salleurl.edu