Scientists at Macquarie University in Australia have discovered a significant role for a naturally occurring protein called protein disulphide isomerase (PDI) in combating brain aging.
Traditionally known for its function in protein folding outside the cell nucleus, PDI has now been found to also enter the nucleus and repair damaged DNA.
This DNA damage typically accumulates as we age or due to environmental stressors like toxins and radiation, leading to cell dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and motor neuron disease (MND).
The researchers observed that PDI behaves like a “molecular glue”, sealing breaks in DNA strands, much like a repair enzyme.
The findings, published in the journal Aging Cell, show that boosting PDI activity in zebrafish can significantly reduce DNA damage due to aging.
Additionally, in lab studies involving human and mouse cells, PDI was shown to restore their self-repair capabilities.
There’s a promising future for gene therapy or mRNA-based treatments that could stimulate PDI activity, potentially preventing or slowing neurodegenerative conditions.
However, researchers caution that PDI can also help cancer cells survive chemotherapy, meaning future therapies must find ways to selectively enhance PDI in healthy cells while making tumor cells more vulnerable.
Traditionally known for its function in protein folding outside the cell nucleus, PDI has now been found to also enter the nucleus and repair damaged DNA.
This DNA damage typically accumulates as we age or due to environmental stressors like toxins and radiation, leading to cell dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and motor neuron disease (MND).
The researchers observed that PDI behaves like a “molecular glue”, sealing breaks in DNA strands, much like a repair enzyme.
The findings, published in the journal Aging Cell, show that boosting PDI activity in zebrafish can significantly reduce DNA damage due to aging.
Additionally, in lab studies involving human and mouse cells, PDI was shown to restore their self-repair capabilities.
There’s a promising future for gene therapy or mRNA-based treatments that could stimulate PDI activity, potentially preventing or slowing neurodegenerative conditions.
However, researchers caution that PDI can also help cancer cells survive chemotherapy, meaning future therapies must find ways to selectively enhance PDI in healthy cells while making tumor cells more vulnerable.
Scientists at Macquarie University in Australia have discovered a significant role for a naturally occurring protein called protein disulphide isomerase (PDI) in combating brain aging.
Traditionally known for its function in protein folding outside the cell nucleus, PDI has now been found to also enter the nucleus and repair damaged DNA.
This DNA damage typically accumulates as we age or due to environmental stressors like toxins and radiation, leading to cell dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and motor neuron disease (MND).
The researchers observed that PDI behaves like a “molecular glue”, sealing breaks in DNA strands, much like a repair enzyme.
The findings, published in the journal Aging Cell, show that boosting PDI activity in zebrafish can significantly reduce DNA damage due to aging.
Additionally, in lab studies involving human and mouse cells, PDI was shown to restore their self-repair capabilities.
There’s a promising future for gene therapy or mRNA-based treatments that could stimulate PDI activity, potentially preventing or slowing neurodegenerative conditions.
However, researchers caution that PDI can also help cancer cells survive chemotherapy, meaning future therapies must find ways to selectively enhance PDI in healthy cells while making tumor cells more vulnerable.
