Gene makes cells live longer in flies

Cell therapy increases the lifespan of flies

01/16/2015

By activating a gene, Bernese researchers succeeded in increasing the life span of flies by 50 to 60 percent. The so-called Azot gene destroys unhealthy cells. Since the gene also occurs in humans, the study results could provide clues as to how the aging process could be slowed down in the future. The investigation was in the journal „Cell“ released.

Gene could slow down aging processes in cells
„Our bodies are made up of several trillion cells“, Head of Studies Eduardo Moreno is quoted in a communication from the University of Bern. „As we age, more and more random defects accumulate in them due to overload or external disturbances, such as the sun's UV radiation.“ But these cell defects do not occur everywhere at the same time and with an identical intensity. „Some cells are more affected than others. We therefore came up with the idea that we can increase the health of the cell tissue and thus the life of an organism by reading out the healthy cells and eliminating the damaged ones“, Moreno continues.

To follow this approach, they examined the cells of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. They discovered a gene that is more frequently activated in defective and, more rarely, in healthy cells, the so-called Ahuizotl gene (Azot gene for short). It destroys unhealthy cells to protect organs like the brain.

Normally, each cell contains two copies of the gene. To make the elimination of damaged cells more effective, the researchers inserted a third copy of the gene. The result of this cellular „quality control“ was according to Moreno „extremely exciting“. Because the flies had a healthier cell tissue after treatment and aged more slowly. In addition, extended their life. „Our flies lived on average 50 to 60 percent longer than their other conspecifics“, explains Christa Rhiner, co-author of the study.

The researchers suggest that the azot gene in humans could slow down the aging process by counteracting the increasing degradation of tissue and nerve cells. (Ag)

Picture credits: Martin Schemm