Immune to aging

Max Planck researchers discover a microbe that is rejuvenated every time it reproduces

2013-09-13

(Press-News.org) This news release is available in German.

While ageing remains an inevitable fact of life, Max Planck researchers have discovered a microbe that stays forever young by rejuvenating every time it reproduces. The findings, published in Current Biology, provide fundamental insights into the mechanisms of aging.

In general, even symmetrically dividing microbes do not split into two exactly identical halves. Detailed investigations revealed that there are mechanisms in place that ensure that one half receives older, often defective, cell material, whereas the other half is equipped with new fully-functional material. So microbes produce offspring that is younger than the parent – like is the case with humans.

The research team showed that, unlike other species, the yeast S. pombe is immune to aging when reproducing under favourable growth conditions. When the yeast is treated well, it reproduces by splitting into two halves that both inherit their fair share of old cell material. As both cells get only half of the damaged material, they are both younger than before. "The yeast is rejuvenated a bit every time it reproduces," explains Iva Tolic-Norrelykke, research group leader at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG) in Dresden and lead investigator on the project.

Once subjected to negative influences like chemicals or heat, the yeast cells started splitting into a younger and an older half just like other cells. While the older cells eventually died, their offspring survived long enough to reproduce even in the harsh environments. The findings highlight S. pombe as an interesting organism that could potentially serve as a model of certain non-aging types of cells in humans, such as germ cells, stem cells and cancer cells.

INFORMATION:

Original publication

Miguel Coelho, Aygül Dereli, Anett Haese, Sebastian Kühn, Liliana Malinovska, Morgan E. DeSantis, James Shorter, Simon Alberti, Thilo Gross and Iva M. Tolić-Nørrelykke
Fission yeast does not age under favorable conditions, but does so after stress
Current Biology, 12 September 2013

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Novelty of eco-friendly bamboo garments lures consumers -- if the price is right, Baylor study shows

2013-09-13

Consumers who plan to buy eco-friendly bamboo apparel are attracted if the price is right, but their next consideration is the novelty of the product, according to a new study by Baylor University researchers. Bamboo has been championed by many as friendly to the environment, although the Federal Trade Commission issued a 2009 consumer alert noting that some pollutants are released in production from bamboo stalks. When it comes to product consumption in general, consumers are influenced by emotion, price, functionality, social image and curiosity, said lead researcher ...

UNC research points to promising treatment for macular degeneration

2013-09-13

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Researchers at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine have published new findings in the hunt for a better treatment for macular degeneration. In studies using mice, a class of drugs known as MDM2 inhibitors proved highly effective at regressing the abnormal blood vessels responsible for the vision loss associated with the disease. "We believe we may have found an optimized treatment for macular degeneration," said senior study author Sai Chavala, MD, director of the Laboratory for Retinal Rehabilitation and assistant professor of Ophthalmology ...

'Red nugget' galaxies were hiding in plain sight

2013-09-13

In 2005 the Hubble Space Telescope spotted unusually small galaxies densely packed with red stars in the distant, young universe. They were nicknamed "red nuggets," not only because they are small and red but also their existence challenged current theories of galaxy formation, making them precious in astronomers' eyes. Since no "red nuggets" were seen nearby, astronomers wondered why they had disappeared over time. New research shows that they didn't disappear completely. In fact, they were simply hidden within the data of previous surveys. Astronomers now realize ...

Sewage treatment removes widely used home and garden insecticides from wastewater

2013-09-13

Contact: Michael Bernstein m_bernstein@acs.org 317-262-5907 (Indianapolis Press Center, Sept. 6-11) 202-872-6042 Michael Woods m_woods@acs.org 317-262-5907 (Indianapolis Press Center, Sept. 6-11) 202-872-6293 American Chemical Society Sewage treatment removes widely used home and garden insecticides from wastewater INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 12, 2013 — Even though sewage treatment plants are not designed to remove tiny amounts of pesticides, they do an excellent job of dealing with the most widely used family of home and garden insecticides, scientists reported ...

Late-breaking press conference schedule

2013-09-13

Contact: Michael Bernstein m_bernstein@acs.org 317-262-5907 (Indianapolis Press Center, Sept. 6-11) 202-872-6042 Michael Woods m_woods@acs.org 317-262-5907 (Indianapolis Press Center, Sept. 6-11) 202-872-6293 American Chemical Society Late-breaking press conference schedule This release includes special "late-breaking" press conferences. For the rest of the press conference schedule on EurekAlert!, please click here. 246th American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition Sept. 8-12, 2013 Attend in Person in Indianapolis or Access Live Audio & ...

Older drinkers may experience fewer hangovers due to less intense drinking

2013-09-13

Contact: Janne S. Tolstrup, Ph.D. jst@si-folkesundhed.dk 45-3532-6438 University of Southern Denmark Jonathan Howland, Ph.D., M.P.H, M.P.A. jhowl@bu.edu 617-638-5158 Boston University School of Medicine Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research Older drinkers may experience fewer hangovers due to less intense drinking While hangovers may be a source of humor, their effects can be debilitating, costly, and even dangerous. A new study of hangovers across the lifespan has found that the tendency to experience hangovers decreases as age increases. Study ...

Sober drinking knowledge often fails 'in the moment' of intoxication

2013-09-13

Contact: Denis M. McCarthy, Ph.D. mccarthydm@missouri.edu 573-882-0426 University of Missouri Mark B. Johnson, Ph.D. mjohnson@PIRE.org 301-755-2700 Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research Sober drinking knowledge often fails 'in the moment' of intoxication Approximately one-third of all fatal crashes each year in the U.S. involve an alcohol-impaired driver. New research compares individuals' perceived dangerousness of driving after drinking while intoxicated with those perceptions while sober. Results ...

Individuals with a dual diagnosis can benefit from 12-step programs too

2013-09-13

Contact: Brandon G. Bergman, Ph.D. bgbergman@partners.org 617-643-7563 Massachusetts General Hospital Christine Timko, Ph.D. ctimko@stanford.edu 650-617-2746 Department of Veterans Affairs Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research Individuals with a dual diagnosis can benefit from 12-step programs too Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) can play an important role in addiction recovery. A new study examines the suitability of 12-step organizations for young adults with co-occurring substance use and psychiatric disorders, referred ...

Better verbal development during childhood linked to later drinking and intoxication

2013-09-13

Contact: Antti Latvala, Ph.D. antti.latvala@helsinki.fi 358-9-19127224 University of Helsinki Michael Windle, Ph.D. e-mwindle@emory.edu 404-727-9868 Emory University Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research Better verbal development during childhood linked to later drinking and intoxication Previous research has found contradictory linkages among cognition, verbal skills, and later alcohol use. A new study has found that better verbal development during childhood predicts more frequent drinking and intoxication during adolescence and young ...

Genetic variant linked with kidney failure in diabetic women but not men

2013-09-13

Washington, DC (September 12, 2013) — A genetic variant on chromosome 2 is strongly linked with kidney failure in diabetic women but not in men, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The findings may help explain gender-specific differences in kidney failure, as well as why some diabetic women are prone to develop kidney failure. Worldwide, more than 370 million people have diabetes, which is the leading cause of kidney failure, or end stage renal disease. Within the non-diabetic population, women ...

First-of-its-kind analysis of U.S. national data reveals significant disparities in individual well-being as measured by lifespan, education, and income

Pioneering research reveals some of the world’s least polluting populations are at much greater risk of flooding fuelled by climate change

Reconstruction of historical seasonal influenza patterns and individual lifetime infection histories in humans based on antibody profiles

New study traces impact of COVID-19 pandemic on global movement and evolution of seasonal flu

[Press-News.org] Immune to aging
Max Planck researchers discover a microbe that is rejuvenated every time it reproduces

Immune to aging

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: