New Mechanism of Aging Identified

The multi-component mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) kinase is the central node of a mammalian pathway that coordinates cell growth with the availability of nutrients, energy and growth factors.  David M. Sabatini, from the Whitehead Institute (Massachusetts, USA), and colleagues have elucidated the role of the pathway in aging. Previous research has shown that when the mTORC1 pathway is inhibited, a variety of animals, including worms, flies, and mice tend to live longer. The Whitehead Institute team has shown that genetically the mTORC1 pathway in mammals affects an aging phenotype, submitting that: "Our findings reveal that mTORC1 is a key regulator of [peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha] function and hepatic ketogenesis and suggest a role for mTORC1 activity in promoting … ageing.”