ByEric Ralls – earth.com –
A protein that guards the tips of chromosomes turns out to be what keeps muscle able to repair itself for a lifetime. When you pull a muscle, specialized repair cells along the fibers spring into action to rebuild the tissue. But keeping those cells alive and dividing doesn’t guarantee healing.
When scientists removed a protein named TRF2 from these cells in mice, injured muscles filled with scar tissue and fat rather than fresh muscle fiber. The finding redefines TRF2, a molecule historically known strictly for its protective role at the tips of chromosomes.
