Scientists at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), along with other leading research institutions, have discovered that the PELOTA protein—known for its role in RNA quality control—can slow aging and extend lifespan. This finding opens new avenues in gerontology and in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
The study results were published in the journal PNAS.
PELOTA plays a key role in RNA quality control, helping cells eliminate defective mRNA molecules and preventing their harmful effects on the body.
The role of RNA in aging has only been partially explored, but this new study shows that PELOTA is crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis and slowing the aging process.
In experiments with the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, a widely used model in aging research, scientists found that overexpression of PELOTA significantly extended the organisms’ lifespan, indicating that ribosome-associated RNA quality control mechanisms play a key role in maintaining longevity.
The study showed that PELOTA regulates two major pathways: mTOR, which controls cell growth and metabolism, and autophagy, the process by which cells clear damaged components. When PELOTA is deficient, mTOR becomes overactivated and autophagy is suppressed, accelerating aging. In contrast, activation of PELOTA inhibits mTOR and promotes autophagy, thereby maintaining cellular balance and extending lifespan.
This discovery opens new horizons for developing therapies aimed at slowing aging and treating neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding the role of PELOTA in maintaining cellular homeostasis could lead to drugs that activate this protein, which in turn may slow age-related changes and improve quality of life.
