A New Class of Drug Created That Fights Aging on a Cellular Level : ScienceAlert
A New Class of Drug Created That Fights Aging on a Cellular Level : ScienceAlert https://share.google/W1VkTg86ka9M9RMaA
Scientists continue to explore ways we can live longer and ensure those lives are healthier.
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Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have been testing a new drug called Rapalink-1, building on an existing immunosuppressant called rapamycin that has been shown to extend the life of cells and rodents. In these new tests, Rapalink-1 extended yeast lifespan to a similar degree as rapamycin.
What's more, molecular analysis revealed that the drug increased the production of enzymes that convert a compound made by gut bacteria, called agmatine, into a variety of other chemicals.
Previous studies suggest agmatine can extend the lifespan of the microbes' host. Tests now reveal the conversion of the compound also indirectly affects genes linked to aging, which is part of the reason that Rapalink-1 was effective.
While the science is quite technical, the takeaway is significant: It gives scientists a clearer indication of how yeast cells can be made to live longer, through a method that may apply to human cells.
"By showing that agmatinases are essential for healthy aging, we've uncovered a new layer of metabolic control over TOR – one that may be conserved in humans," says cellular biologist Charalampos Rallis.
"Because agmatine is produced by diet and gut microbes, this work may help explain how nutrition and the microbiome influence aging."
