Aging is an inevitable phenomenon and is accompanied by several comorbidities. To this end, research into the effects of aging has become paramount, and scientists are looking for ways to slow down aging and its detrimental impact on the human body. While aging ultimately causes deterioration in all body systems, the disruption of protein homeostasis or 'proteostasis' is one of the major underlying reasons.
Our cells have several mechanisms that help detect damaged or misfolded proteins and break them down. These 'protein quality control' systems prevent faulty proteins from aggregating and accumulating, causing cellular stress and long-lasting issues. As a person ages, these systems decline in function, which sets the stage for many age-related degenerative diseases and chronic conditions.
Thus, preventing the disruption of proteostasis mechanisms could be the key to increasing longevity and improving the quality of life among older adults. In this vein, a research team from Korea set out to investigate the relationship between two essential protein quality control systems, namely proteasomes and autophagy. The researchers led by Professor Seogang Hyun from Chung-Ang University, Korea, identified a drug that could preserve the performance of these systems, demonstrating interesting anti-aging effects.
This study made available online on August 15, 2024 in the journal Autophagy . Proteasomes are protein complexes that break down faulty proteins into smaller peptides. On the o.
