The role played by telomeres in mammalian cells has been known for several years. It is also known that these non-coding DNA sequences, which are found at the ends of the chromosomes, protect them and are necessary to ensure correct cell division. What is more, the "youngest" cells have longer telomeres, and as these cells divide, the telomeres get shorter until they no longer permit new cell divisions. This telomere shortening process has also been associated with cancer, which emphasises the important implications of these structures, not only in the aging process, but also in the oncology field or other age-associated illnesses. However, to date, little is known about the role played by telomeres in essential plant physiology processes such as growth. The reason is simple: the technologies that are necessary to be able to detect and measure the telomeres at the cellular level in these organisms had not been developed until now.

Now, a study led by CSIC researcher Ana Caño-Delgado, carried out at the CRAG, describes the development of an innovative technology that enables the monitoring of telomeres at the cellular level in plants. The technique allows to demonstrate, for the first time, the role played by these structures in plant development and longevity of plants.

The study, published in Cell Reports, is the result of a five-year interdisciplinary effort that has brought together CRAG plant experts and international leaders in the field of mammalian telomeres, such as the Telomeres and Telomerase Group led by María Blasco at the CNIO. Computational engineers from La Salle (Universitat Ramon Llull) and physicists from the Universidad de Barcelona (UB) and the University of Texas (ATM, USA) have also participated in this study.