Conditional telomerase induction causes proliferation of hair follicle stem cells

Regenerating tissues such as skin and blood require high rates of cell turnover, which occurs through the tightly regulated division of tissue stem cells. The genes and proteins that control stem-cell behaviour remain largely unknown, but now a critical connection between stem-cell function and the protein component of telomerase, TERT, has been discovered. Conditional activation of TERT in skin epithelium activates resting hair follicle stem cells, resulting in rapid hair growth. This is distinct from TERT's role in extending telomeres, the caps that protect the ends of chromosomes, and suggests new ways of treating disorders associated with tissue injury and ageing.