Silent Retrotransposons – Another Secret to the Longevity of Naked Mole Rats
The research, published in the PNAS journal under the editorship of Eugene Koonin, focused on the study of pseudogenes – inactive gene copies formed through reverse transcription. To identify these genomic elements, a specialized algorithm called PPG Finder was developed. The tool's efficacy was validated through comparisons with existing analytical methods.
A comparative analysis of the genomes of various mammalian species, including mice, rats, and naked mole rats, revealed significant differences in retrotransposon activity. Notably, it was discovered that retrotransposons in the naked mole rat genome have remained largely inactive over extended periods. This conclusion is based on the observation that pseudogenes in the naked mole rat exhibit a high degree of divergence from their parent genes, suggesting their ancient origin.
Furthermore, the study found that the proportion of retrotransposons in the naked mole rat genome is substantially lower than in other mammals: 25% compared to 40% in humans and 37% in mice. The authors attribute this to the lack of retrotransposon expansion in the naked mole rat genome over the past several million years.
While a direct causal link between the inactivity of retrotransposons and the longevity of naked mole rats has yet to be established, the findings provide a foundation for further exploration of the role of retrotransposons in aging processes. The researchers suggest that pharmacological control of retrotransposon activity could become a promising avenue in the development of geroprotective strategies.
In summary, this study not only enhances our understanding of mammalian genome evolution but also opens new avenues for exploring the mechanisms of longevity and developing approaches to slow down the aging process.
Publication date: 30.10.2024
Source:
Kogan V. et al. The reconstruction of evolutionary dynamics of processed pseudogenes indicates deep silencing of "retrobiome" in naked mole rat. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024 Nov 5;121(45):e2313581121. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2313581121. Epub 2024 Oct 28. PMID: 39467133; PMCID: PMC11551321. https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2313581121
A comparative analysis of the genomes of various mammalian species, including mice, rats, and naked mole rats, revealed significant differences in retrotransposon activity. Notably, it was discovered that retrotransposons in the naked mole rat genome have remained largely inactive over extended periods. This conclusion is based on the observation that pseudogenes in the naked mole rat exhibit a high degree of divergence from their parent genes, suggesting their ancient origin.
Furthermore, the study found that the proportion of retrotransposons in the naked mole rat genome is substantially lower than in other mammals: 25% compared to 40% in humans and 37% in mice. The authors attribute this to the lack of retrotransposon expansion in the naked mole rat genome over the past several million years.
While a direct causal link between the inactivity of retrotransposons and the longevity of naked mole rats has yet to be established, the findings provide a foundation for further exploration of the role of retrotransposons in aging processes. The researchers suggest that pharmacological control of retrotransposon activity could become a promising avenue in the development of geroprotective strategies.
In summary, this study not only enhances our understanding of mammalian genome evolution but also opens new avenues for exploring the mechanisms of longevity and developing approaches to slow down the aging process.
Publication date: 30.10.2024
Source:
Kogan V. et al. The reconstruction of evolutionary dynamics of processed pseudogenes indicates deep silencing of "retrobiome" in naked mole rat. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024 Nov 5;121(45):e2313581121. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2313581121. Epub 2024 Oct 28. PMID: 39467133; PMCID: PMC11551321. https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2313581121