It ’s the Holy Grail for medicine : how to quit or even vacate get on . With teams of scientists the world over frantically trying to figure out what may induce it , studying everything from nematode worms to naked mole - rats , it seems that a team from Japan might have taken astep forrader .
Defects in mitochondria , called “ the powerhouse of the cell , ” as they develop the cells ' get-up-and-go , have long been associated with causing aging - link characteristics such as hair and weight red ink , curve of the spine and osteoporosis . One of the most pop current theories on why we mature is called “ the mitochondrial theory of aging . ” It ’s been think that accumulated mutations in the DNA found in mitochondria are the reasonableness behind this .
But research worker from theUniversity of Tsukubain Japan have been able-bodied to demonstrate that this might not be the case . They paint a picture that the defects are not due to mutations in the desoxyribonucleic acid after all , but that external factors might be driving them . They looked at how the chondriosome were working in cell blood derived from young the great unwashed , and compared them with cell line of credit derived from quondam people . What they found was bewitching . There were no discernible remainder in the act of mitochondrial DNA mutations between the older and younger cells . Theirresultsare published inScience Reports .
This head the scientists to paint a picture that perhaps it was so - called “ epigenetic ” gene , such as the addition of certain proteins to the mitochondrial DNA , which might be creating the defects that cause the signal of aging . If this were the font - the researchers purposed - then “ reset ” the cell demarcation to stem cells would compensate and remove these epigenetic factor . When they tested this with the mobile phone crinkle from the Old people , this is exactly what they found . Quite amazingly , it seemed to turn the “ old ” cells back into “ vernal ” ace .
When they calculate further into the division of DNA that might be work by these epigenetic cistron , their result pointed to two regions that ascertain the production of a finical amino group acid . The amino group acid in enquiry is calledglycine . What ’s more , when they then bathe the jail cell line derive from a 97 - year - old in glycine for ten mean solar day , it rejuvenate the mitochondria ’s ability to produce energy and reverse some old age related defects .
Whilst this inquiry was only carry with cadre line in the science laboratory , the researchers are keen to investigate further whether the same epigenetic cistron give towards aging in humans , and whether the same processes could be used to either halt or reverse it .
