The Rat That Ages Beautifully

摘要

They will never win a beauty contest, but naked mole rats (Heterocepha-lus glaber) may hold a lesson or two for humans. Two studies this year, for instance, found clues to why these rodents can live 30 years, cancer-free. One secret may be a ribosome that excels at producing error-free proteins; misformed proteins can clog up the body's systems and accelerate aging. Another could be a supersized version of a complex sugar that seems to protect against cancer. Naked mole rats don't break this compound down as fast as other animals, so it builds up in the spaces between cells and may keep the cells from clumping together and forming tumors.