Overworked Protein May Trigger Ageing Across All Life

摘要

An over worked protein that causes yeast to age when it neglects one of its functions may trigger ageing in mice too. If the same process operates in people, it may suggest new ways to reverse age-related disease.rnAs we age, some genes start to be expressed in the wrong tissues across the body, a process which is thought to contribute to diseases like diabetes and Alzheimer's. But while sunlight or chemicals may cause limited DNA damage, it was not clear how these more widespread changesrnin gene expression came about.rnTo investigate, David Sinclair and colleagues at Harvard Medical School in Boston turned to yeast cells. They produce a dual-function protein called Sir2 that, while being involved in DNA repair, also helps keep certain genes switched off. As yeast cells age, the protein can't do both jobs and neglects its role as a gene suppressor.