Chronic Stress Elevates Telomerase Activity in Rats

Authors

Annaliese K. Beery, University of California, San FranciscoFollow
Jue Lin, University of California, San Francisco
Joshua S. Biddle, University of California - Berkeley
Darlene D. Francis, University of California - Berkeley
Elizabeth H. Blackburn, University of California, San Francisco
Elissa S. Epel, University of California, San Francisco

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-23-2012

Publication Title

Biology Letters

Abstract

The enzyme telomerase lengthens telomeres—protective structures containing repetitive DNA sequences at chromosome ends. Telomere shortening is associated with diseases of ageing in mammals. Chronic stress has been related to shorter immune-cell telomeres, but telomerase activity under stress may be low, permitting telomere loss, or high, partially attenuating it. We developed an experimental model to examine the impacts of extended unpredictable stress on telomerase activity in male rats. Telomerase activity was 54 per cent higher in stressed rats than in controls, and associated with stress-related physiological and behavioural outcomes. This significant increase suggests a potential mechanism for resilience to stress-related replicative senescence.

Keywords

chronic stress, telomere, telomerase, ageing, resilience

Volume

8

Issue

6

First Page

1063

Last Page

1066

DOI

10.1098/rsbl.2012.0747

Rights

© 2012 The Royal Society

Comments

Electronic supplementary material is available at http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1098/rsbl.2012.0747 or via http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org

Recommended Citation

Beery, Annaliese K.; Lin, Jue; Biddle, Joshua S.; Francis, Darlene D.; Blackburn, Elizabeth H.; and Epel, Elissa S., "Chronic Stress Elevates Telomerase Activity in Rats" (2012). Neuroscience: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/nsc_facpubs/15