Translated material
Immortality Enzyme
Scientists reveal the secrets of eternal youth
The enzyme telomerase may be a key ingredient in the “elixir of life,” according to scientists from the Spanish National Cancer Institute. Mice genetically programmed to have telomerase levels ten times higher than their normal counterparts live 50% longer. “In this way, we can slow down the aging of mice,” says Maria Blasco, leader of the research team, “and increase their lifespan.” In addition, New Scientist magazine reports, programmed mice are not prone to obesity, have better coordination and lower blood sugar levels.Blasko is optimistic about the future and believes that the time will come when telomerase will help people live longer, because the protein turns, in her words, “ordinary mortal cells into immortal ones.”
The optimism of the Spanish scientist is confirmed by the experiments of her American colleagues. They found that increasing the level of telomerase in white blood cells increases their resistance to disease.
The most common source of this enzyme in nature is astragalus, a legume plant that is, perhaps not coincidentally, often used in Chinese medicine and has no known side effects. Telomerase performs protective functions. It protects the tiny pieces of DNA that are located at the end of our chromosomes and that get shorter and shorter as cells divide. When they shorten to a critical length, the cell dies.
Figuratively speaking, telomerase can be compared to the tips on shoelaces that prevent them from fraying. So maintaining high levels of telomerase should, at least in theory, help slow down the aging of cells and the body as a whole.
Of course, in practice, not everything is as smooth as in theory. There are concerns that increasing telomerase levels may not be as safe for humans. The fact is that cancer cells also produce more of this protein than usual.
“By increasing the level of telomerase,” warns British immunologist Arnie Akbar, “one should be prepared for unwanted tumor growth, as with cancer.”
These negative consequences, according to Spanish scientists, can be combated with the help of anti-cancer drugs. In their opinion, telomerase has more advantages than disadvantages. If it’s too early to talk about the “elixir of life,” argues Maria Blasko, then it will be possible to fight aging diseases by increasing the level of telomerase in the not-so-distant future.