The molecular structure of the anti-aging protein Alpha Klotho has been revealed
DALLAS – March 29, 2018 – Researchers from UT Southwestern’s Charles and Jane Pak Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research and Internal Medicine’s Division of Nephrology published a study in Nature which revealed the molecular structures of the \”anti-aging” protein alpha Klotho and how it transmits a hormone signal that controls a range of biological processes. This investigation was conducted in collaboration with researchers from New York University School of Medicine, and Wenzhou Medical University.
In studies conducted at UTSW by Dr. Makoto Kuroso, Professor in Pathology, two decades ago, it was shown that mice lacking either aKlotho (or the hormone FGF23) suffered from multiple organ failure, as well as early onset cancer, cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline. Researchers inferred a-Klotho is responsible for aging symptoms, so they studied how the aKlotho and FGF23 protein work together to achieve their roles.
A-Klotho may exist on the cell surface or it can be released and circulate as soluble A-Klotho in the body fluids including blood. Until recently, it was widely believed that the cell-attached a-Klotho and its circulating form served completely different purposes.
Source:
http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/newsroom/articles/year-2018/anti-aging-protein.html
