Researchers found that stimulating the production of an enzyme in roundworms can increase their lifespan
Researchers from several South Korean institutions have discovered that stimulating the production of an enzyme can increase roundworms’ lifespan. The group’s paper, published in Science Advances journal, describes the study they conducted on the protein VRK-1 to determine its effect on roundworm longevity.
Previous research has shown that slowing down mitochondrial respiration is one of the ways to increase longevity. Researchers wanted to know why slowing mitochondrial energy consumption has an effect on aging. As part of their effort, they looked at an energy sensor in mitochondria called adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), known to play a role in controlling how much energy is used in cells in roundworms. Previous research suggested that its level of activation is controlled by a protein called VRK-1. Researchers genetically modified two lines roundworms so that they produced more VRK-1, and two other lines to produce less VRK-1. The researchers then tracked the roundworms’ lifespans.
Researchers found that roundworms with higher levels of VRK-1 tend to live longer, while those with lower amounts have shorter lifespans. Control worms that represent the average lifespan of a roundworm, lived an average of 16.9 days. In their experiments one of the lines that expressed more VRK-1 lasted on average 20.8, while the other lasted on average 23.7% longer. One of the lines that produced less VRK-1 only lived an average of 12.7 days, while the other lived just 15.9. Researchers suggest that this finding shows VRK-1 directly impacts roundworm lifespan.
Source:
https://phys.org/news/2020-07-production-enzyme-roundworms-lifespan.html
