The mechanism that regulates cell aging has been discovered: the key lies in the recycling of defective or damaged cellular components, particularly in the nucleus, the part that contains DNA, which when malfunctioning leads to premature ageing, disease and tumours.
The discovery, published in the journal Nature Aging, is due to the Greek Hellas Foundation for research and technology (Forth).
The research group led by Margarita-Elena Papandreou conducted the study on Caenorhabditis elegans worms, the most used in genetic studies, and on mice, discovering that the same mechanism also plays a fundamental role in fertility and could therefore lead to new treatments in this field.
During ageing, as also in cells that have become cancerous, the structure of the cell nucleus undergoes progressive deterioration, often accompanied by an excessive enlargement of some structures.
These characteristics are also typical of diseases related to premature or abnormal aging, such as Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome, Werner's syndrome and others.
The researchers found that the anchor protein for the nucleus envelope, called ANC-1 and present in different versions in both organisms as well as in humans, plays the main role.
This protein prevents the alteration of cellular structures, protects fertility in germ cells and above all controls the recycling and destruction of damaged parts.
“We were surprised to find that recycling of cellular material is such an important factor,” comments Nektarios Tavernarakis, co-author of the study.
"It is interesting to note that this mechanism is closely linked to the pathways that promote cell longevity - adds Tavernarakis - highlighting how the two processes are closely connected".