Abstract
Telomere biology is closely linked to the process of aging. The restoration of telomere length by maintaining telomerase activity in certain cell types of human adults allows for the proliferative capacity of the cells and preserves the regeneration potential of the tissue. The absence of telomerase, that leads to telomere attrition and irreversible cell cycle arrest in most somatic cells, acts as a protective mechanism against uncontrolled cancer growth. Nevertheless, there have been numerous studies indicating noncanonical functions of telomerase besides those involved in telomere lengthening. Eusocial insects serve as a great system for aging research. This is because eusocial reproductives, such as queens and kings, have a significantly extended lifespan compared to nonreproductive individuals of the same species. We report that the somatic tissues of honeybee queens (Apis mellifera) are associated with upregulated telomerase activity; however, this upregulation does not fully correlate with the rate of DNA replication in the tissues. This indicates a noncanonical role of telomerase in the somatic tissues of honeybee queens.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
