CRB - Cambridge Research Biochemicals

PNA Telomere FISH Probes

Probes for determining telomere length

The ends of vertebrate chromosomes consist of repeats of TTAGGG known as telomeres. These telomeres provide a protective end-cap to the DNA and help preserve the integrity of underlying genes. During normal cell division these telomeres are shortened, and this process is thought to be linked to the regulation of replication and the senescence of cells. Some cells, such as germ cells, fetal cells, and stem cells, retain the ability to divide due to the action of telomerases which repair the telomeres. The same mechanism is thought to be used by cancer cells to achieve immortality. Therefore, the determination of telomere length is of great interest in the study of cancer and age-related diseases.

Telomere PNA FISH probes provide a simple method for the detection of human telomere sequences by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using fluorophore-labelled PNA probes. The method provides excellent quantitation as the fluorescence intensity directly correlates to the length of the telomeres.

Download Panagene's protocol for using PNA FISH probes

References:

• Lansdorp PM, et al. Heterogeneity in telomere length of human chromosomes. Hum. Mol. Genet. 1996;5:685-91
• Gabriela M. Baerlocher, et al. Telomere Length Measurement by Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization and Flow Cytometry: Tips and Pitfalls. Cytometry 2002; 47:89–99

CRB offers telomere probes FISH probes in 5 and 10 nmole quantities. 5 nmoles is sufficient for 100 tests. All probes are greater than 95% pure by HPLC.