Scientists at the Institute of Science and Technology in the Korean city of Daegu have discovered substances that can reverse the aging process.
Aging is a phenomenon in which the ability of cells to divide and grow is impaired, which leads to the degradation of the body and the appearance of senile diseases. Reversing aging is an instinctive human desire, and now Korean researchers have taken up the issue, writes EurekAlert.
It is known that one of the causes of cell aging is the degradation of lysosomes, which are responsible for the degradation of biopolymers, such as proteins and lipids in the cell. During normal operation of lysosomes, the cell gets rid of damaged components, however, if their functioning is disrupted, biomolecules begin to accumulate in the cell, which leads to metabolic disorders.
One of the reasons for the decrease in the activity of lysosomes is the ATM protein. Scientists have tried to find factors that can control the aging process and substances that can restore the ability of cells to divide. As a result, it turned out that the KU-60019 compound can block the ATM protein.
"The rationale of the study is that it is possible to reverse the aging process of cells by suppressing the degradation of lysosomes," said Professor Park Seng Chul.