Improved fidelity of protein synthesis delays ageing

Ivana Bjedov (primary)
Cancer Biology
UCL Cancer Institute
Jürg Bähler (secondary)
Genetics, Evolution and Environment
Institute of Healthy Ageing

Abstract

Ageing is a malleable process and, remarkably, a single point mutation suffices to confer healthy ageing from yeast to mammals. A reduction of protein synthesis has emerged as a common denominator of all major anti-ageing interventions, yet the underlying mechanism is largely unknown. We are combining innovative molecular, genetics, systems biology and mathematical approaches, in fly and yeast model organisms, to explore evolutionary conserved anti-ageing mechanisms. We have recently used CRISPR to make the first metazoan ribosomal accuracy mutant, that makes fewer translation errors, and have shown it is healthier and lives longer. In this project we will get more mechanistic insight into this accuracy mutant in order to understand how fewer translation errors lead to health and longevity.


References

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BBSRC Area
Genes, development and STEM* approaches to biology
Area of Biology
AgeingGenetics
Techniques & Approaches
BiochemistryBioinformaticsGeneticsImage ProcessingMathematics / StatisticsMicroscopy / ElectrophysiologyMolecular Biology