Scientists at the University of Exeter have developed compounds that inhibit the aging of the cells lining the inner surface of blood vessels. This was announced in a press release on MedicalXpress.
During the experiments, the researchers used endothelial cells to test substances that target specific splicing factors - the process of cutting out nucleotide sequences (introns) from an RNA molecule and stitching the remaining (exons), resulting in the maturation of the molecule. Thus, introns do not carry information about the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide (protein). Sometimes, alternative splicing occurs, when exons are excised or introns remain, as a result of which the same gene can encode different polypeptides.
Although splicing factors control alternative splicing by inhibiting or activating the mechanism, abnormalities are possible that lead to the development of cancer and other diseases. In addition, the role of incorrect alternative splicing in cell aging has been shown.
Scientists evaluated how AP39, AP123 and RT01 preparations, which delivered hydrogen sulfide to the mitochondria of endothelial cells, influenced the work of splicing factors, cell division, apoptosis (programmed cell death), DNA replication, and other processes. It turned out that compounds, which are an additional source of energy for mitochondria, activated the factors SRSF2 and HNRNPD, and the signs of cell aging became less pronounced.
The researchers also demonstrated that if you block the work of SRSF2 and HNRNPD, then cell aging accelerated by 25 percent.
