Jef Akst | Mar 24, 2010 | 3 min read
One protein appears to play an integral role in protecting telomeres, and possibly preventing cancerous growth, according to a study published this week in Science. Chromosomes with fluorescently tagged telomeres in cells that lack Rap1and Ku. The arrows point to examples of telomere-sister chromatid exchanges.Image: Titia de Lange laboratoryThe protein in question is part of a complex called shelterin, which prevents a potentially dangerous type of DNA repair that can shorten telomeres and