Scientists have zeroed in on a gene linked to Parkinson’s disease that plays a role in delaying ageing in fruit flies, says a US study.
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) life scientists have identified a gene previously implicated in Parkinson’s disease that can delay the onset of ageing and extend the healthy life span of fruit flies. The research, they say, 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 the removal of damaged mitochondria from cells.
‘Ageing is a major risk factor for the development and progression of many neurodegenerative diseases,’ said David Walker, an associate professor of integrative biology and physiology at UCLA and senior author of the research.
In the research, published Tuesday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, they show that parkin can modulate the ageing process in fruit flies.
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) life scientists have identified a gene previously implicated in Parkinson’s disease that can delay the onset of ageing and extend the healthy life span of fruit flies. The research, they say, 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 the removal of damaged mitochondria from cells.
‘Ageing is a major risk factor for the development and progression of many neurodegenerative diseases,’ said David Walker, an associate professor of integrative biology and physiology at UCLA and senior author of the research.
In the research, published Tuesday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, they show that parkin can modulate the ageing process in fruit flies.