Fruit Fly Lifespan Extended Dramatically

 Aging  

Researchers have dramatically increased the lifespan of the common fruit fly by activating a newly-discovered gene responsible for eliminating unhealthy cells.

Researchers have managed to increase the lifespan of flies significantly. To do this, they have activated a gene that destroys unhealthy cells. The results of the study show by new possibilities of how to slow aging in humans.

The new research has been published in the journal Cell.

Related articles Researchers Sequence Sacred Lotus Genome In Hopes of Understanding Plant's Extraordinary Longevity  Researchers Slow The Aging Process Using Antibiotics  Gene Variants Found To Affect Human Lifespans

Biologists continue to try extend the life of people through the exploration of model organisms such as mice or flies. Under the leadership of Eduardo Moreno is researcher at the Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern now possible to develop a new method for the life of flies extension.

"We reasoned that selecting the less affected cells and eliminating the damaged ones could be a good strategy to maintain tissue health and therefore delay aging and prolong lifespan."

This is based on the targeted selection of the best functioning cells.

"Our bodies are composed of trillions of cells," says Moreno. "As we age, accumulate in them due to overloading or external interference factors, such as UV radiation from the sun, getting more random defects." But these defects do not occur in all cells at the same time and with the same intensity as Moreno says: "Some cells are more affected than others.We reasoned that selecting the less affected cells and eliminating the damaged ones could be a good strategy to maintain tissue health and therefore delay aging and prolong lifespan."

To test their hypothesis, the researchers resorted back to the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. The first challenge was to find out what were the healthier cells in the organs of the fruit fly. Moreno's team discovered a gene that is activated in less healthy cells. They called the gene ahuizotl (azot) after a mythological Aztec creature selectively targeting fishing boats to protect the fish population of lakes, because the function of the gene was also to selectively target less healthy or less fit cells to protect the integrity and health of the organs like the brain or the gut.

Normally, there are two copies of this gene in a cell. By pasting-in a third copy, the scientists were able to sort out the healthier cells and nerve cells more efficiently. The result of this cellular "quality control", according to Moreno was "very exciting."

The treated flies showed a healthier tissue, aging more slowly and have a longer life. "Our flies lived an average of 50 to 60 percent longer than their other counterparts," says Christa Rhiner, co-author of the study.

However, the potential of these results goes beyond the creation of Methuselah flies, the researchers say, because the azote gene is also present in the human body, the selection of healthier, fitter cells in organs could, in the future, serve as a mechanism to slow aging.


SOURCE  University of Bern

By 33rd Square

Embed