NRF1 is Neuroprotective via Proteasomal Function

Cells maintain themselves against damage and stress via a range of maintenance processes. These include autophagy, in which proteins and structures are transported to the lysosome to be broken down by enzymes, and the ubiquitin-proteasome system, in which specific proteins are dismantled in the proteasome, among others. It is well demonstrated that upregulation of these processes improves resistance to cell stress, and can also improve long-term health, reducing risk of age-related disease and slowing progression of those conditions. Upregulation of autophagy, for example, is a feature of many interventions that modestly slow the progression of degenerative aging. Some approaches to improve proteasomal function have also been shown to slow aging and extend life in short-lived species. Thus a broad range of research is focused on increasing the efficiency or effectiveness of these processes. In today's open access paper, researchers discuss upregulation of NRF1, also known as NFE2L1, as a way to improve proteasomal function. The specific focus is neurodegeneration rather than aging more generally, but it is still the case that greater resistance to the consequences of cell stress can preserve function in the face of many distinct and complex damaging processes. While the research community expends a great deal of time and effort on the question of how to improve the operation of systems of cell maintenance, it remains the case that few well developed therapies have show...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs