/sci/ - Science & Math

Is there more to aging besides telomeres?

Ageing is mainly caused by the telomeres in the far ends of the DNA chains "diminishing" after every cytokinesis. The cells start to lose their ability to carry on a successful mitosis after the telomeres are too short, later ending up in mutations as the telomeres protect the 3'-end of the DNA molecule.

DNA is replicated by the DNA polymerasis in the process of transcription, where the polymerasis itself is an enzym which catalyzes the event. There's a natural system to prohibit the shortening of the telomeres. It's called telomerasisenzyme.

Now that we know that the system which prohibits the shortening of the telomeres is an enzyme, it should behave according to the laws of substrate regulation (if the reaction is saturated, it's speed is only dependant of the amount of enzyme catalyte taking part in the process).

Would it be possible to transfer this enzyme (or it's materials) into the cell or nucleus via the gastric or respirational system cocooned in a nanoparticleshell, which then dissolves or collapses once it reaches the nucleus and is confronted by lipases and such. Other option MIGHT be to somehow increase the production of the telomere-enzyme by modifying the human DNA with virusvectors.

Discuss