Longevity: Altering RNA Helicases May Extend Lifespan

First Posted: Jul 21, 2015 10:22 AM EDT

Could be extend our lives by changing our RNA? Scientists have made a breakthrough in decoding the aging process and how to dramatically slow it down.

Our bodies are programmed to grow rapidly when we are young, mature into adults, and then at a certain age the regeneration and repair of our cells, tissue and organs grinds to a halt. Not all of these mechanisms are completely mapped out yet but in this case, the researchers made several significant steps toward understanding how the lifespan of a cell is regulated.

In this latest study, the scientists tested the cells of a specific roundworm, Caenorhabditis elegans. This particular worm shares some of the same cellular attributes as humans. While looking into the roundworm cells, the researchers focused their attention on RNA helicases, which is a family of enzymes that regulate the function of RNA. The helicases are well understood, but their function in relation to the aging process has not yet been fully explored.

The researchers targeted each of the 78 RNA helicases to see what the effects would be. They noticed that the result of altering more than 30 RNA helicase genes actually significantly decreased life expectancy. They realized that they wouldn't be able to alter every single one of the 78 RNA helicases in order to increase lifespan. Each RNA helicase played a different and important role and needed to be switched on or off individually.

In the end, the researchers believe that HEL-1, a helicase, may act as a transcription regulator, which controls how cells convert DNA to RNA. In fact, they found that HEL-1 has specific roles in a specific longevity pathway.

In fact, the researchers believe that altering RNA helicases to extend life in humans looks promising, since both humans and roundworm have HEL-1. With that said, more research will need to be conducted in humans before any conclusions are drawn.

The findings are published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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TagsDNA, RNA, Longevity, Age, Aging