Factor in naked mole rats help maintain protein quality

Washington: A new study has demonstrated that a factor in the cells of naked mole rats protect and alter the activity of the proteasome, a garbage disposer for damaged and obsolete proteins.

The study conducted by Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, found another secret of longevity in the tissues of the longest-lived rodent, the naked mole rat.

Study first author Karl Rodriguez, Ph.D., said that this factor was part of an overall process or mechanism by which naked mole rats maintained their protein quality.

According to the study, these proteasomes usually rapidly stopped functioning, leading to the accumulation of damaged proteins that further impair cell function, contributing to the vicious cycle that leads to cell death.

The study also observed that this factor also protected proteasome function in human, mouse and yeast cells when challenged with various proteasome poisons, studies showed.

Rodriguez said, that as a result, protein quality declined and this contributed to the functional declines seen during ageing and enhancement of protein quality, meanwhile, led to longer life in yeast, worms, fruit flies and naked mole rats.