{"id":2506,"date":"2014-09-19T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-09-19T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vermont.salk.edu\/news-release\/scientists-discover-an-onoff-switch-for-aging-cells\/"},"modified":"2014-09-19T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2014-09-19T07:00:00","slug":"scientists-discover-an-onoff-switch-for-aging-cells","status":"publish","type":"disclosure","link":"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/zh\/news-release\/scientists-discover-an-onoff-switch-for-aging-cells\/","title":{"rendered":"Scientists discover an on\/off switch for aging cells"},"content":{"rendered":"

\nLA JOLLA\u2013Scientists at the Salk Institute have discovered an on-and-off \u201cswitch\u201d in cells that may hold the key to healthy aging. This switch points to a way to encourage healthy cells to keep dividing and generating, for example, new lung or liver tissue, even in old age.\n<\/p>\n

\nIn our bodies, newly divided cells constantly replenish lungs, skin, liver and other organs. However, most human cells cannot divide indefinitely\u2013with each division, a cellular timekeeper at the ends of chromosomes shortens. When this timekeeper, called a telomere, becomes too short, cells can no longer divide, causing organs and tissues to degenerate, as often happens in old age. But there is a way around this countdown: some cells produce an enzyme called telomerase, which rebuilds telomeres and allows cells to divide indefinitely.\n<\/p>\n

\nIn a new study published September 19th in the journal Genes and Development<\/em><\/a>, scientists at the Salk Institute have discovered that telomerase, even when present, can be turned off.\n<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\nVictoria Lundblad and Timothy Tucey<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> for a high-resolution image.<\/p>\n

\nImage: Courtesy of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n\u201cPrevious studies had suggested that once assembled, telomerase is available whenever it is needed,\u201d says senior author Vicki Lundblad<\/a>, professor and holder of Salk\u2019s Ralph S. and Becky O’Connor Chair. \u201cWe were surprised to discover instead that telomerase has what is in essence an \u2018off\u2019 switch, whereby it disassembles.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\nUnderstanding how this \u201coff\u201d switch can be manipulated\u2013thereby slowing down the telomere shortening process\u2013could lead to treatments for diseases of \u8870\u8001<\/a> (for example, regenerating vital organs later in life).\n<\/p>\n

\nLundblad and first author and graduate student Timothy Tucey conducted their studies in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the same yeast used to make wine and bread. Previously, Lundblad\u2019s group used this simple single-celled organism to reveal numerous insights about telomerase and lay the groundwork for guiding similar findings in human cells.\n<\/p>\n

\n\u201cWe wanted to be able to study each component of the telomerase complex but that turned out to not be a simple task,\u201d Tucey said. Tucey developed a strategy that allowed him to observe each component during cell growth and division at very high resolution, leading to an unanticipated set of discoveries into how\u2013and when\u2013this telomere-dedicated machine puts itself together.\n<\/p>\n

\nEvery time a cell divides, its entire genome must be duplicated. While this duplication is going on, Tucey discovered that telomerase sits poised as a \u201cpreassembly\u201d complex, missing a critical molecular subunit. But when the genome has been fully duplicated, the missing subunit joins its companions to form a complete, fully active telomerase complex, at which point telomerase can replenish the ends of eroding chromosomes and ensure robust cell division.\n<\/p>\n

\nSurprisingly, however, Tucey and Lundblad showed that immediately after the full telomerase complex has been assembled, it rapidly disassembles to form an inactive \u201cdisassembly\u201d complex \u2014 essentially flipping the switch into the \u201coff\u201d position. They speculate that this disassembly pathway may provide a means of keeping telomerase at exceptionally low levels inside the cell. Although eroding telomeres in normal cells can contribute to the aging process, cancer cells, in contrast, rely on elevated telomerase levels to ensure unregulated cell growth. The \u201coff\u201d switch discovered by Tucey and Lundblad may help keep telomerase activity below this threshold.\n<\/p>\n

\nThis research was supported by the National Institutes of Health<\/a>, the Fritz B. Burns Foundation and a Rose Hills Foundation Fellowship<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

\nAbout the Salk Institute for Biological Studies:<\/strong>
\nThe Salk Institute for Biological Studies is one of the world’s preeminent basic research institutions, where internationally renowned faculty probes fundamental life science questions in a unique, collaborative, and creative environment. Focused both on discovery and on mentoring future generations of researchers, Salk scientists make groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of cancer, aging, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and infectious diseases by studying neuroscience, genetics, cell and plant biology, and related disciplines.\n<\/p>\n

\nFaculty achievements have been recognized with numerous honors, including Nobel Prizes and memberships in the National Academy of Sciences. Founded in 1960 by polio vaccine pioneer Jonas Salk, MD, the Institute is an independent nonprofit organization and architectural landmark.<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","faculty":[98],"disease-research":[146],"class_list":["post-2506","disclosure","type-disclosure","status-publish","hentry","faculty-vicki-lundblad","disease-research-aging-and-regenerative-medicine"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nScientists discover an on\/off switch for aging cells - Salk Institute for Biological Studies<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/zh\/news-release\/scientists-discover-an-onoff-switch-for-aging-cells\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"zh_CN\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Scientists discover an on\/off switch for aging cells - Salk Institute for Biological Studies\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"LA JOLLA\u2013Scientists at the Salk Institute have discovered an on-and-off \u201cswitch\u201d in cells that may hold the key to healthy aging. 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