The Aging Process
Did you know that the aging of our cells is related to
our lifespan? Researchers at the University of California San Diego have been
studying the aging process for years and have made some exciting discoveries.
They found that cells follow two distinct aging paths, and they have
genetically manipulated these processes to extend the lifespan of cells.
The Gene Regulatory Circuits
Cells, including those of yeast, plants, animals, and
humans, all contain gene regulatory circuits that are responsible for many physiological
functions, including aging. These gene circuits can operate like our home
electric circuits that control devices like appliances and automobiles.
The Smart Aging Process
The UC San Diego group uncovered that, under the control
of a central gene regulatory circuit, cells don’t necessarily age the same way.
Imagine a car that ages either as the engine deteriorates or as the
transmission wears out, but not both at the same time. The UC San Diego team
envisioned a “smart aging process” that extends cellular longevity by cycling
deterioration from one aging mechanism to another.
The Rewired Circuit
In a new study, the researchers genetically rewired the
circuit that controls cell aging. From its normal role functioning like a
toggle switch, they engineered a negative feedback loop to stall the aging
process. The rewired circuit operates as a clock-like device, called a gene
oscillator, that drives the cell to periodically switch between two detrimental
“aged” states, avoiding prolonged commitment to either, and thereby slowing the
cell’s degeneration.
The Results
These advances resulted in a dramatically extended
cellular lifespan, setting a new record for life extension through genetic and
chemical interventions. Yeast cells that were synthetically rewired and aged
under the direction of the synthetic oscillator device resulted in an 82%
increase in lifespan compared with control cells that aged under normal
circumstances.
Sources and Additional Information:
https://nypost.com/2023/04/28/life-expectancy-could-grow-80-with-anti-aging-breakthrough/
https://today.ucsd.edu/story/scientists-slow-aging-by-engineering-longevity-in-cells
