The activation of telomerase, the ribonucleoprotein responsible for maintaining the ends of chromosomes, has been implicated as the critical step in cellular immortalization and tumorigenesis.

• 端粒酶通过催化端粒合成，保持端粒长度，从而保证细胞的持续分裂能力，其活性与细胞永生化、肿瘤发生等过程密切相关。