Sarah E Wolf, Mary J Woodruff, David A Chang van Oordt, Ethan D Clotfelter, Daniel A Cristol, Elizabeth P Derryberry, Stephen M Ferguson, Mark T Stanback, Conor C Taff, Maren N Vitousek, David F Westneat, Kimberly A Rosvall
Biologists aim to explain patterns of growth, reproduction and ageing that characterize life histories, yet we are just beginning to understand the proximate mechanisms that generate this diversity. Existing research in this area has focused on telomeres but has generally overlooked the telomere's most direct mediator, the shelterin protein complex. Shelterin proteins physically interact with the telomere to shape its shortening and repair. They also regulate metabolism and immune function, suggesting a potential role in life history variation in the wild...
March 21, 2024: Journal of Animal Ecology