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Scientists have identified a new anti-aging drug class that works by acting on a key gut bacteria process, a progress that can lead to ways of moving forward lifespan In humans.
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London demonstrate that new drug extends lifespan in yeast working on a pathWhich is also active in humans.
The findings, published in the journal communication biologyreveal how drugs Can affect lifespan through target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway,
TOR is a widely researched pathway found in many species, including humans and yeast, that is a central regulator of development and aging and plays an important role in age-related diseases such as cancer and dementia.
It is already a major focus of anti-aging and cancer research, with drugs such as rapamycin showing promise in extending healthy life spans in animals.
The new study tested the next-generation drug Rapalink-1, which inhibits TOR and is under investigation for its anti-cancer properties.
The researchers found that Rapalink-1 not only slowed aspects of yeast cell growth, but also extended lifespan, working through the TORC1 cluster of proteins, which are part of the growth-promoting TOR pathway.
The study found an important role for a set of gut bacterial enzymes called agmatinases, which break down the metabolite agmatine and keep TOR activity in check.
Previous research has shown that when these enzymes are lost, cells grow faster and age prematurely.
Studies have also shown that complement compounds associated with this pathway promote live long And the cells benefited.
“By showing that agmatinases are essential for healthy aging, we have uncovered a new layer of metabolic control over TOR – one that may be conserved in humans,” said study author Charalampos Rallis.
“Since agmatine is produced by diet and gut microbes, this work may help explain how nutrition and the microbiome influence aging,” Dr. Rallis said.
While agmatine supplements are already available in stores, scientists urge caution in consuming them for growth or longevity purposes.
The new study suggests that agmatine supplementation may only be beneficial if certain metabolic pathways in the body related to arginine breakdown are intact.
“In addition, agmatine does not always promote beneficial effects because it may contribute to some pathology,” Dr. Rallis said.
However, scientists say the findings still point to new strategies for longevity that combine TOR-targeted drugs with diet or microbial interventions.
“Understanding how TORC1 activity is tuned may be beneficial in normal aging and pathological conditions as well as cancer, where TOR plays a critical role,” they wrote.