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Published online 31 August 2008 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2008.1070

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Heart of 'ageing enzyme' revealed

Telomerase protein structure will help research into ageing and cancer.

John Bonner

The part of the enzyme that controls the timing mechanism of cellular ageing has been revealed. The X-ray crystal structure offers insights into the ageing process of normal cells, and may provide a safer method for treating up to 90% of human cancers.

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  • Telomerase road in trying to treat cancer is really not new, but this research is admittedly fascinating. As a consequence, it is surely worhty, and I hope in next future also successful. However, we must consider that the best therapy is Primary Prevention.Aiming to this goal on very large scale, since 30' years, I suggest the existence of Oncological Terrain as well as Oncological Terrain-Dependent Inherited Real Risk.(See:Oncological Terrain in www.semeioticabiofisica.it, as well as http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2008/07/newsweak_darwin_vs_lincoln.html#comments http://blogs.nature.com/nm/spoonful/2008/07/product_placement.html#comments http://network.nature.com/forums/askthenatureeditor/1846?page=1#reply-5181 ; http://blogs.nature.com/nm/spoonful/2008/05/our_new_columns_narrowing_the.html#comments , and specially http://blogs.nature.com/nm/spoonful/2008/04/stress_as_a_therapy_1.html#comments http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2008/07/new_drug_for_prostate_cancer_e.html#comments http://blogs.nature.com/nature/journalclub/2008/02/nicholas_katsanis.html#comments http://blogs.nature.com/nm/spoonful/2008/08/the_best_defense_against_biowa.html#comments http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2008/08/bush_going_green_in_the_deep_b.html#comments http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080828/full/news.2008.1068.html?q=2#last-comment )

    • 01 Sep, 2008
    • Posted by: Sergio Stagnaro

  • This can be an importantant step to new drug design,but there are many steps to jump that we can surely says that telomerase is the most important.Anyway the this can go in one direction. keep up,

    • 01 Sep, 2008
    • Posted by: tijana radovic