Deccan Chronicle, 8^th May, Page 10, bottom column

Gene Could Add Decades to Life

Los Angeles, May 7:

Scientists, including an Indian-origin researcher, have discovered a “Dorian Gray” gene that may extend lifespan and delay the onset of ageing. Researchers from the University of California found that the gene, which was previously been implicated in the Parkinson Disease, extended the healthy lifespan of fruit flies by more than 25 percent.

The research could have important implications for ageing and disease in humans. The gene, called parkin, serves at least two vital functions: it marks damaged proteins so that cells can discard them before they become toxic, and it is believed to play a key role in removal of damaged mitochondria from cells.

The researchers increased parkin levels in the cells of the flies and found that this extended their lifespan by more than 25 percent, compared with a control goup that did not receive additional parkin. “In the control group, the flies are all dead by day 50,” Walker said.

“In the group with parkin over-expressed, almost half of the population is still alive after 50 days. We have manipulated only one of their roughly 15,000 genes, and yet the consequences for the organism are profound,” he said. “Just by increasing the levels of parkin, they live substantially longer,” said Anil Rana, lead author of the research. Treatments to increase parkin expression may delay the onset and progression of Parkinson’s disease, the biologist believe. - PTI