Ageing Ageing is not a passive, disorganized process of deterioration, as biologists once thought. Like many biological processes, it is controlled by signalling pathways and transcription factors. Mutations in certain genes can slow down ageing and lengthen lifespan in model organisms, such as yeast, flies and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Pathways that extend life expectation…
Read moreSirtuins are members of a class of enzyme, deacetylases which remove acetyl groups from proteins. Sirtuin activators increase yeast life span by 70%. It is possible but not absolute that a compound resveratrol may activate sirtuins. A possible mechanism for the putative activity of resveratrol is similar to caloric restriction. It is rumoured that resveratrol…
Read moreThis fascinating review Vijg and Campisi discusses question, which may be of interest to all of us, that is whether or not it is possible to extend life expectation. Slowly life expectations is increasing with a target of 120-125 years being seen as possible though at the moment 85 years is a good possibility for…
Read moreMayor has written a fascinating review of the role of telomeres in ageing in the BMJ of 17th January 2009.Chromosome in the body carries a marker that counts down from the day of birth to death, rather like a cellular sand clock. These biological timers are telomeres-repeat sequences of DNA that, together with associated proteins,…
Read moreA protein that regulates lifespan in yeast by its genome may function in the same manner in mammals, or more specifically the mouse. The protein is a family of proteins called sirtuins. .In yeast sirtuin , called Sir2 is a guard and protector of the organism’s genome, preventing genes from expressed at the wrong time…
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