Researchers in London report that chromatin, the complex of DNA and proteins that packs the genome, behaves with notable resilience against aging. This resilience helps scientists understand how the body adapts to age and which regions stay most vulnerable. The observations emerged in a high-profile chemistry journal, signaling progress in the field of molecular aging.
Proteins that assemble chromatin undergo age related changes such as distortion and chemical modification. These alterations can disrupt how the proteins work and, in some cases, contribute to diseases such as cancer.
To study aging, researchers rebuilt artificial chromatin in the lab, creating young and old states that included post-translational modifications linked to aging.
Analyses revealed that the global architecture of chromatin remained largely intact despite local aging-related changes. The surprising finding lay in the enzymes that work with chromatin; they failed to recognize the aged segments, a shift that could derail cellular function.
The research team described the findings as surprising, noting that chromatin can endure wear until focus on old regions reveals significant shifts.
In practical terms, the team drew a parallel to an old computer: some parts may work even when others are faulty, so the whole system can still operate.
By generating aged proteins in the lab and mapping which wear triggers irreversible consequences, scientists seek paths for new anti-aging strategies. The work could inform drug development aimed at slowing aging changes and helping restore cellular functions across tissues.
Earlier research uncovered unique interactions between bacteria and human cells, broadening the understanding of host microbe relationships and their impact on health and disease.