Turning back time: ageing reversed

in mice

Outline
Summary on some of the mammalian cell
organelles and proteins focused by this study.
What are the effects of aging on those
organelles.
Can the effects be reversed
What are the advantages of reversing the
effects of aging.

Background knowledge
In mammals, cells can produce energy by aerobic
respiration, where large molecules are broken
down into smaller molecules, which releases
energy in the process. This process happens
mainly in the mitochondria
Mitochondria

 Mitochondria carry their own genomes, but

some of the cellular components needed for
respiration are also produced by the nucleus.
This means these two organelles must
communicate to coordinate their activities.

Investigation
As we age, mitochondrial function declines. To find the cause,
the levels of messenger RNA in the nucleus and mitochondria
of muscles cells of young mice and old mice were compared.
mRNA makes proteins such as SIRT1 and HIF-1 for the
communication between nucleus and mitochondria

Findings
The study found mRNA in the nucleus is
similar between the young and old mice. But
there was a decline in the mitochondria with
age.
If SIRT1 proteins decline, and the side effects
of aging takes place.

 But SIRT1 is dependant on the coenzyme

NAD+, which also declines with age. This again
leads to poor communication between
mitochondria and nucleus.

Can this decline be reversed ?

Old mice was injected everyday with
nicotinamide mono nucleotide (NMN) which
increased the levels of NAD.
After a week, signs of muscular atrophy and
inflammation had dropped and muscles
structure were similar to 6-month-old mice.
Therefore mitochondrial function was
improved and age-associated diseases in old
mice.

Benefits of increasing SIRT1

Increasing SIRT1 has provided evidence of

health benefits such as protection from
metabolic decline, cardiovascular disease,
cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases by
other animals. Hopefully, humans can gain
these benefits too.

Summary

Twenty two month

old mouse cell

Twenty two monthold mouse cell

injected with NMN

END
Laasya Samhita. (2013). Turning back time:
ageing reversed in mice.Available:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn2478
4-turning-back-time-ageing-reversed-inmice.html#.Us7R3fRdVyN. Last accessed
09/01/2014. Journal reference: Cell, DOI:
10.1016/j.cell.2013.11.037