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Scientists in
Colorado have found the lifespan switch of a tiny worm and hope
to find the same switch in humans.
They say the
switch extends or reduces an individual worm's life depending on
whether it is 'on' or 'off'.
The team now
hope to identify the human equivalent and say it may then be possible
to develop a drug which flicks the switch.
Two University
of Colorado researchers identified the DAF-16 protein in a species
of roundworm.
The switch is
controlled by food availability, temperature and stress, according
to Professor Thomas Johnson and his colleague Samuel Henderson.
Johnson said:
"If DAF-16 is 'on', it triggers less reproduction, more efficient
cell repair and longer lives. On the other hand, if DAF-16 is 'off',
the result is more reproduction, worse cell repair and a shortened
lifespan."
When DAF-16
is located outside the cell nucleus, it is in the 'off' mode but
it enters the cell nucleus when food is in short supply, triggering
a series of reactions which lead to a longer lifespan.
Their research
is published in the journal Current Biology.
Story filed: 13:26 Wednesday 12th December 2001
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