Mankind a step away from eternal youth? – New discoveries by British scientists

Researchers at the University of Nottingham have discovered a protein in cell mitochondria, which plays a key role in the process of aging. This discovery could lead to the formation of a treatment which would enable the removal of the consequences of the aging of the human body.

As we age, our organs and bodily functions slowly begin to deteriorate. The loss of muscle mass begins to occur around the age of 50 and becomes more prominent in one's 60s, which leads to a noticeable drop in bodily strength and higher sensitivity.

Aging of the brain can also lead to irreversible damage to the memory, and numerous neurodegenerative diseases can lead to the deterioration of cognitive abilities.

The study targeted the protein family called carbonate dehydratase, which turn oxygen we breathe in into energy (ATP – adenosine triphosphate) necessary to the maintenance of our organism. With the help of a special process called 2D electrophoresis, the scientists have extracted all the proteins from the brain and muscle cell mitochondria. The samples were gathered from young and middle-aged persons.

Using the method of comparison, they discovered that carbonate dehydratase was far more prevalent in the tissue samples belonging to older persons.

The scientist also studied the influence of carbonate dehydratase on roundworms. The results showed that the worms which had been fed the proteins had lived shorter than others.

The research was published in the Ageing magazine.

University of Nottingham

proteins

cells

carbonate dehydratase

aging of organism