Have scientists found the anti-ageing secret to `eternal youth`?

Zee Media Bureau

Washington DC: Scientists claimed to have discovered a key protein that has a a crucial role in the ageing process.

They say the breakthrough protein discovery could slow down or even stop the ageing process.

Researchers believe that the protein found within the powerhouse of a cell could pave way for the development of new drugs that slow the progression of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

The study, led by Lisa Chakrabarti and Amelia Pollard, focused on a family of proteins called carbonic anhydrase found within mitochondria, the cells' 'batteries' which convert the oxygen we breathe into the energy (ATP) needed to power our body.

"What's really exciting about this development is that we have been able to surmise that the function of this protein is playing a role in the aging process within the cell," said Chakrabarti.

She added, "This gives us a very promising start in working out how we can best target this protein within the mitochondria to slow the effects of aging in the body while limiting other unwanted side effects on the body. It could potentially offer a significant new avenue in both tackling degenerative illnesses and the general effects of aging on the body."

Using a specialist process called 2D gel electrophoresis, the scientists separated out all proteins found within the mitochondria of brain cells and muscle cells from normal young brains and normal middle-aged brains and compared the two samples.

They found that the carbonic anhydrase was found in greater quantity and was more active in the samples of the middle-aged brain. Significantly, this increase was also reflected in samples from young brains suffering from early degeneration, suggesting that the increase is detrimental.

To establish whether this was indeed detrimental and not evidence of the body's attempt to guard against this degeneration, known as a protective effect, the scientists studied the effect of carbonic anhydrase on nematode worms.

They found that feeding carbonic anhydrase to the tiny celegans worms, measuring around just one millimetre in length, reduced their life span. As we age, our body's tissues and functions begin to diminish.

Aging has been associated with a loss of muscle mass which begins around the age of 50 and becomes more pronounced in our 60s, leading to a reduction in strength and greater frailty.

Aging in the brain can cause the onset of cognitive impairment affecting memory, reasoning and multitasking and can lead to dementia. Other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease can cause the early onset of cognitive decline.

The scientists are continuing their work to identify chemical compounds that may be successful in targeting carbonic anhydrase and to study what effect these potential inhibitors have on worms which have had their lives shortened by the protein.

Their study could be the first step to the development of a new type of drug that targets carbonic anhydrase in just the body's mitochondria to protect against ageing and degeneration.

The study has been published in the academic journal Ageing.

(With ANI inputs)