Tag: mTOR

A new study published in Frontiers of Pharmacology has shown that glutamine deprivation might speed up aging while glutamine supplementation reduces oxidative stress-induced senescence in mice [1]. Glutamine is an amino acid of paramount importance for many cellular functions. It is involved in the synthesis of various crucial molecules, such as the neurotransmitter glutamate and...

In a new study published in Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, researchers have shown that a combination of two compounds targeting different autophagy pathways is effective in fighting the pathological mechanism of Alzheimer's disease in a mouse model [1]. Cleaning up is a big deal The accumulation of "junk", such as misfolded proteins and damaged organelles,...

Scientists have shown that a combination of rapamycin, acarbose, and phenylbutyrate has a synergetic rejuvenation effect when administered to 20-month-old mice for three months [1]. Fighting on multiple fronts In this paper, the authors argue that to tackle such a multifaced process as aging, it might be beneficial to target different molecular pathways using several...

Publishing in Aging, a team of researchers has discovered how puerarin, an extract of kudzu, ameliorates chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) signs in cellular cultures by limiting mitophagy: the consumption of mitochondria by cells. When autophagy isn't a good thing Mitophagy is a subset of autophagy, the consumption of any organelle by a cell. This...

Scientists have discovered a new mechanism of action of one of geroscience’s favorite molecules, which is related to its anti-cancer effect [1]. Rapamycin – more than a geroprotector Rapamycin needs no introduction in the longevity community. This molecule was discovered in 1972 in a sample of soil from Easter Island (Rapa Nui in the native...

We take a look at rapamycin and why some researchers think it could be useful in combating aging. What is rapamycin? Rapamycin is a macrolide, a class of antibiotic that includes erythromycin, roxithromycin, azithromycin, and clarithromycin. Rapamycin exhibits potent antitumor and immunosuppressive activity. Where is rapamycin found? Rapamycin was first discovered in 1972 in the...