A role of telomerase to eliminate the cost of reproduction
depending on the type of reproduction strategy?
Although telomerase has been widely demonstrated to be present in
somatic tissues of numerous animal species, no detailed information is
available relating telomerase to the proliferation status of the tested
tissues or other biological traits that could better identify the
purpose of telomerase activity in such cases. The reason for telomerase
activity in non-proliferative cells remains unclear. It is speculated
that in the somatic tissues of large mammals, telomerase activity is
reduced as protection against tumor development, and in small mammals,
telomerase is widely active, as there is no need to repress it. This
“purposiveness without purpose’ can be questioned in regard to why it
is worthy for cells to express telomerase (or anything else) if there is
no need for it. It is widely known that body mass in terrestrial mammals
is negatively correlated with the fecundity rate of the species (Allainé
et al. 1987; Werner and Griebeler 2011). Therefore, it is tempting to
ask whether somatic telomerase activity in eusocial kings and queens as
well as in small but highly fecund mammal species such as lagomorphs or
rodents may serve its non-canonical function to protect its individuals
against reactive oxygen species produced due to the exacerbated
metabolic stress upon reproduction and may only be a reflection of a
more common and broader phenomenon. We can speculate whether the
necessity to maintain telomerase activity in somatic cells of some
species reflects a different reproduction strategy of the species rather
than their body size.
Conflicts of Interest Statement Author declares no conflict of
interest.
Acknowledgements This study was supported by grant no.
18-21200S from the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic and by Strategy
AV21, Diversity of Life and Health of Ecosystems.