A fluorescence-based assay that measures telomere length and telomere shortening and can be used as a predictor for age-related diseases.

Telomere length declines with age in all mitotic tissues. During normal aging, the gradual loss of telomeric DNA in dividing somatic cells may contribute to cell death. Telomere length and rates of telomere shortening in tumors have diagnostic and prognostic value for clinical practice, specifically as indicators of rates of age. However, it was presumed impossible to measure telomeres in vertebrate DNA by PCR amplification with oligonucleotide primers, because only primer-dimer-derived products are expected.

Researchers at the U of U have solved this problem allowing simple and rapid measurement of telomeres in a closed-tube, fluorescence-based assay. This easy and automated assay permits the measurement of telomere length and shortening. It can be used as a metric for the potential of acquiring age-related diseases or as a predictor of mortality from diagnosed age-related diseases, with shorter telomeres predicting poorer survival.

Generating Revenue

• Primer pairs eliminate the problem of primer-dimers.
• Assay is straight forward to do and amenable to automation.
• Assay requires only one, inexpensive DNA-binding dye.
• It is simple, fast, cheaper, and readily scalable.

Njajou, et al (2009). Association between telomere length, specific causes of death, and years of healthy life in health, aging, and body composition, a population-based cohort study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 64(8): p. 860-4.

Cawthon, R.M. (2002). Telomere measurement by quantitative PCR. Nucleic Acids Res. 30(10): p. e47.

Aaron Duffy
(801) 585-1377
aaron.duffy@utah.edu