Evidence for Parkinson's Disease to Have a Bacterial Origin
This study aimed to investigate whether Desulfovibrio bacteria induce alpha-syn aggregation.
Fecal samples of ten PD patients and their healthy spouses were collected for molecular detection of Desulfovibrio species, followed by bacterial isolation. Isolated Desulfovibrio strains were used as diets to feed Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes which overexpress human alpha-syn fused with yellow fluorescence protein. Curli-producing Escherichia coli MC4100, which has been shown to facilitate alpha-syn aggregation in animal models, was used as a control bacterial strain, and E. coli LSR11, incapable of producing curli, was...
Source: Fight Aging! - May 16, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs
Fight Aging! Newsletter, May 15th 2023
In this study, we examined the average telomere length and telomerase activity, as well as the formation of telomere associated foci (TAFs) and the mRNA expression levels of the shelterin components in cultured primary cells of Spalax, a long-lived, hypoxia-tolerant, and cancer-resistant blind mole-rat species.
We showed that with cell passages, Spalax fibroblasts demonstrated significant shortening in telomere length, similar to rat cells, and in line with the processes observed earlier in tissues. We also demonstrated that the average telomere length in Spalax fibroblasts was significantly higher than the average ...
Source: Fight Aging! - May 14, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Newsletters Source Type: blogs
Knowing Both a Great Deal and Too Little About the Mechanisms of Sarcopenia
Today's open access paper is a tour of the better known mechanisms of post-translational modification of proteins, and their relevance to the universal age-related loss of muscle mass and strength, the onset of sarcopenia. It is a good example of the state of knowledge in much of the life sciences, where it is possible to know both a great deal and very little about an important topic such as maintenance of muscle tissue.
Thus one can find any number of papers in which specific mechanisms of post-translational modification when applied to specific proteins are investigated in connection to the regulation of muscle g...
Source: Fight Aging! - May 12, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs
The Thioredoxin Antioxidant System in Aging and Longevity
Sabotaging antioxidant systems can shorten life span in model organisms, but that doesn't necessarily imply that one can lengthen life by improving on biological antioxidant capacity. Yes, oxidative stress rises with age, and the presence of too many oxidizing molecules is harmful to a cell, but the presence of those oxidizing molecules and the damage they cause to cellular machinery is also a signal that produces greater cell maintenance and other beneficial outcomes. Cellular biochemistry is complicated, and it is rarely the case that relationships are simple and linear. General delivery of antioxidants as supplements ha...
Source: Fight Aging! - May 11, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs
Career Conversations: Q & A With Biochemist Prabodhika Mallikaratchy
Credit: CUNY School of Medicine.
“One of the biggest things I hope for in my career is that in 20 years, I still feel the same joy and enthusiasm for research and training that I feel now,” says Prabodhika Mallikaratchy, Ph.D., a professor in the department of molecular, cellular, and biomedical sciences at the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Medicine. Dr. Mallikaratchy talks with us about her career path, research on developing new immunotherapies and molecular tools using nucleic acids, and her belief in the importance of being passionate about your career.
Q: How did you first become interested in ...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - May 10, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Being a Scientist Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacology Tools and Techniques DNA Medicines Profiles Proteins Source Type: blogs
Inhibition of miR-141-3p Reduces Age-Related Inflammation, Improves Health
Researchers here demonstrate an approach to inhibiting miR-141-3p that leads to improved health in old mice following twelve weeks of treatment. It appears that this microRNA is involved in the at least the inflammatory signaling characteristic of old age, but potentially a range of other mechanisms as well, such as mitochondrial function, and tendency for cells to become senescent. Since every aspect of cellular biochemistry influences every other aspect, one can produce benefits in this way and still be left with an unclear understanding of exactly why the results are positive.
We previously demonstrated elevate...
Source: Fight Aging! - May 9, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs
Proposing a Model for the Epigenetic Contribution to Aging
Is epigenetic change a cause or consequence of aging, and are epigenetic clocks measuring a cause or consequence of aging? In today's open access preprint, researchers build a model of the epigenetic contribution to aging, and propose that the answer is "both", with different epigenetic marks on the genome being either cause or consequence of aging.
Epigenetic marks such as DNA methylation, the attachment of methyl groups to the genome at specific locations called CpG sites, alter gene expression. They do so by altering the structure of packaged DNA, either hiding regions from transcriptional machinery or exposing t...
Source: Fight Aging! - May 8, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs
Fight Aging! Newsletter, May 8th 2023
In conclusion, NAT mitigated age-associated cerebral injury in mice through gut-brain axis. The findings provide novel evidence for the effect of NAT on anti-aging, and highlight the potential application of NAT as an effective intervention against age-related diseases.
Retinal Cell Reprogramming Restores Vision in Non-Human Primate Study
https://www.fightaging.org/archives/2023/05/retinal-cell-reprogramming-restores-vision-in-non-human-primate-study/
Early applications of in vivo cellular reprogramming to medicine are cautiously focused on retinal regeneration. The eye is as close to an isolated system...
Source: Fight Aging! - May 7, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Newsletters Source Type: blogs
Reviewing Present Biomarkers of Aging
Today's open access paper, with more than 120 contributing authors, is a tour of the broad topic of biomarkers of aging, an attempt to say at least something about every aspect of cellular biochemistry and functional capacity that is either used or proposed to be used to measure biological age, from grip strength to epigenetic clocks. Biological age is in one sense an aspirational concept, a way to measure the progression of aging that will accurately reflect mortality and disease risk. In another sense, biological age is self-evidently real. Different people age at different rates, and exhibit very different risk levels f...
Source: Fight Aging! - May 1, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs
Manganese: The Magical Element?
The element manganese is essential for human life. It’s aptly named after the Greek word for magic, and some mysteries surrounding its role in the body still exist today—like how our bodies absorb it, if very high or low levels can cause illness, or how it might play a role in certain diseases.
Manganese is necessary for metabolism, bone formation, antioxidation, and many other important functions in the body. The element is found in strong steel, bones and enzymes, and drink cans. Credit: Compound Interest CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Click to enlarge.
Making Much With Manganese
Structure of the human manganese s...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - April 26, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacology Molecular Structures Cellular Processes Proteins Source Type: blogs
Fight Aging! Newsletter, April 24th 2023
In this study, researchers show that mice lacking a functional ATF4 gene show little to no loss of grip strength and treadmill performance into late life; it is quite an impressive effect size. Assessments of muscle biochemistry do show age-related declines, but to a lesser degree than the controls. How ATF4 knockout functions to produce this outcome is an interesting question. The researchers point out a range of possible downstream and upstream targets that have been implicated in the regulation of muscle growth, but it will clearly require further work to identify the important mechanisms involved.
Aging slowly...
Source: Fight Aging! - April 23, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Newsletters Source Type: blogs
Investigating Mechanisms By Which Some Gut Microbes May Shorten Fly Life Span
The lifespan of flies is especially sensitive to intestinal function, making them perhaps an interesting model in which to study mechanisms by which changes in the gut microbiome can affect health and longevity. It is clear that the gut microbiome changes with age, and different microbial populations can affect health in different ways. At the high level, it is thought that much of the harm done in later life is mediated by increased chronic inflammation, a reaction to harmful species or the metabolites that they produce. At the detail level, a lot of work remains to be accomplished when it comes to mapping the biochemistr...
Source: Fight Aging! - April 20, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs
Career Conversations: Q & A With Polymer Chemist Frank Leibfarth
Credit: Courtesy of Dr. Frank Leibfarth.
“I love that you can change the molecular-level structure of a material, then pull it, bend it, or twist it and see firsthand how the molecular changes you introduced influence its stretchiness or bendiness,” says Frank Leibfarth Ph.D., an associate professor of chemistry at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill. In an interview, Dr. Leibfarth shares with us his scientific journey, his use of chemistry to tackle challenges in human health and sustainability, and his beliefs on what makes a career in science exciting.
Q: What led you to study chemistry?
...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - April 19, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Chrissa Chverchko Tags: Being a Scientist Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacology Tools and Techniques Cool Tools/Techniques Profiles Source Type: blogs
ATF4 Knockout in Mice Greatly Slows Age-Related Loss of Strength and Endurance
In this study, researchers show that mice lacking a functional ATF4 gene show little to no loss of grip strength and treadmill performance into late life; it is quite an impressive effect size. Assessments of muscle biochemistry do show age-related declines, but to a lesser degree than the controls. How ATF4 knockout functions to produce this outcome is an interesting question. The researchers point out a range of possible downstream and upstream targets that have been implicated in the regulation of muscle growth, but it will clearly require further work to identify the important mechanisms involved.
Aging slowly...
Source: Fight Aging! - April 17, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs
Fight Aging! Newsletter, April 17th 2023
In conclusion, oral NR altered the gut microbiota in rats and mice, but not in humans. In addition, NR attenuated body fat mass gain in rats, and increased fat and energy absorption in the HFD context.
Glycine Supplementation as a Methionine Restriction Mimetic
https://www.fightaging.org/archives/2023/04/glycine-supplementation-as-a-methionine-restriction-mimetic/
Supplementation with the non-essential amino acid glycine has been shown to modestly slow aging in short-lived laboratory species. In today's open access review paper, researchers note glycine supplementation as essentially a calorie restricti...
Source: Fight Aging! - April 16, 2023 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Newsletters Source Type: blogs
