Telomere Protein TRF2 Drives Muscle Regeneration
TL;DR
A University of Pennsylvania study shows TRF2, a protein long known for protecting chromosome ends, also helps muscle stem cells maintain their identity and coordinate the repair cycle. Removing TRF2 in mouse muscle stem cells impairs regeneration, causing fat and scar tissue to accumulate after injury, and accelerates Duchenne muscular dystrophy in a mouse model. TRF2 acts beyond telomeres, targeting regulatory genome regions containing G-quadruplex structures to preserve stem cell identity, with implications for therapies and cancer biology.
Topics:sciencehealth-and-medicine#cancer-biology#duchenne-muscular-dystrophy#health-and-medicine#muscle-stem-cells#regeneration#trf2
- Without this protein, damaged muscle turns to fat and scar tissue ScienceDaily
- TRF2 Preserves Muscle Stem Cell Identity and Drive Repair Neuroscience News
- Chromosome-protecting protein may help explain muscle repair and the rarity of muscle cancers Medical Xpress
- Scientists reveal how muscles preserve cells responsible for repair Bioengineer.org
Want the full story? Read the original reporting
Read on ScienceDaily