A branching process model of telomere shortening (Q4951472)

This paper considers a multitype Bellman-Harris branching process model for telomeres, the chromosome ends of dividing cells. Each time a cell divides, one of its daughter cells will maintain its chromosome length, while the other will have shorter length. This shortening is thought responsible for cellular ageing and death. The main theorem (Theorem 4.1) is derived using results from renewal theory. It provides asymptotic results (as time \(t\to\infty)\) for the expected number of \(j\)-type cells of age less than \(a\) at \(t>0\), with \(j\)-type lifelength distribution, starting from a \(k\)-type ancestor, where \(j\) and \(k\) are the remaining numbers of telomere units. The authors point to earlier work on telomeres where only a single unit was lost at every cell division, whereas their paper allows for the loss of a random number. They conclude with a mention of the problem of several chromosomes, as against the single chromosome of their model; in this case, one would need to consider the minimum of several non-independent processes, although the dynamics remain the same.