With aging, the function of long genes deteriorates, which may be the main cause of systemic aging. This has been shown by a study published in the journal. Trends in Genetics.
Genes, that is, certain sections of DNA, are responsible for the synthesis of various protein molecules. Previous studies tried to find out which genes were responsible for the aging process. The new study showed that the problem may not be in specific genes but in impaired reading of information from them. This is especially noticeable in the case of long genes.
Scientists have observed a decline in the activity of long genes with age in a wide variety of animals, from worms to humans, as well as in a variety of human cells and tissues and in people with neurodegenerative diseases. Experiments in mice have shown that this phenomenon can be alleviated by a variety of factors, including calorie restriction.
The authors of the study believe that this pattern is due to damage to their DNA by ultraviolet radiation during the life of the animals, as a result of errors in cell division and other factors. In this case, a long gene is more likely to be damaged than a short one.
“For a long time, studies of aging have focused on the genes associated with this process, but our explanation is that it is much more coincidental; it is a physical phenomenon related to the length of the genes rather than the specific genes involved or their function” – noted the authors.
Previous scientists I learnedThis calorie restriction protects the brain against aging.