The effects of ellagic acid, caffeine and betaine on telomerase enzyme activity

Nucleotide repeats called telomeres at the ends of linear chromosomes protect chromosomes from both fusions and shortening occurring during replication. Telomerase, which elongate telomeres, has an important place in aging, cancer and stem cell studies. The aging process is related to the shortening of telomeres. There is evidence that cancers are associated with constant prolongation of telomeres. Telomerase enzyme is a very important enzyme that prolongs the telomeres and therefore can affect both the aging and carcinogenesis processes by its inhibition or activation. In this thesis, the effects of betaine, caffeine and ellagic acid compounds on telomerase enzyme activity were investigated. These compounds are found in nature as abundant in certain foods, especially coffee, tea, pomegranate, beet root. Besides taking these compounds with natural foods, especially betaine and ellagic acid can be taken as nutritional supplements in the form of tablets or capsules due to their known benefits. In this study, the effect of these compounds on telomerase enzyme was investigated on Mus musculus swiss albino mice. Telomerase activity in mice was measured by a PCR-ELISA based method. The results show that betaine has an slightly inhibitory effect, especially at high doses. Caffeine may act as an inhibitor in high doses, but may have activator activity at low doses. Also ellagic acid showed a mild activator effect.