How long can humans live?Check the size of nucleolus nucleoli.

Image source: MPI f. Biology of Ageing/v. Tiku

From the Max Planck Institute (Max Planck Institute) researchers studying discovered the nucleus nucleoli the link between the size and life expectancy, so scientists are expected to use the size of the nucleolus information as a molecular marker for assessing individual health and aging.

Can a cell show its biological age?
Or can we predict the age of the animal?
Recently, a study published in the journal Nature Communications, from the Max Planck Institute (Max Planck Institute), the researchers found the nucleus nucleoli the link between the size and life expectancy, so scientists are expected to use the size of the nucleolus information as a molecular marker for assessing individual health and aging.

For a long time researchers have been trying to find instructions body biomarkers of aging, it can help predict the organism's health and life expectancy, recently, the researchers Varnesh Mr. Tiku and his colleagues through the c. elegans (Caenorhabditis elegans) longevity study mutant made a breakthrough, short life than nematodes, these long-lived mutant nematodes are small nucleoli, showed the nucleus and the situation does not depend on induced nematodes longevity way;
Nucleoli are tiny structures in the nucleus, where special RNA molecules and proteins are assembled to form ribosomes.
Clarifying the correlation between nucleolus size and longevity could help researchers predict the lifespan of nematode worms.

Human muscle biopsy

Researchers Antebi said, we also in other longevity observed nuclei nucleolus reduced size of model organisms, such as fruit flies and mice, such correlations may also exist in the human body;
When researchers to experience moderate diet plus exercise muscle biopsy analysis of the elderly over the age of 60, they found that, compared with before intervention intervention after the muscle cells of the nucleus in the elderly nucleoli changed smaller, moderate dietary restrictions and exercise is considered can effectively prolong the life of the body and increase health level.

"Chicken or egg?

So is there a direct correlation between the reduction of nucleolus size and the life expectancy of the organism or is it just an accidental situation where there is no causal relationship?
The researchers Antebi believed that the size of nucleolus was not only a biomarker for longevity, but that the molecules inside the nucleolus could also affect the body's life span.
Now researchers have seen this hypothesis is correct, they found that carry small nucleoli longevity mutant worms nucleoli fibrous protein levels in the body also tend to be low, nucleolus fibrin proteins can help to the factory assembly, when the level of fibrin reduce worms become longevity, it is showed that the fibrous protein levels in nucleolus is able to adjust the life expectancy of nematodes.

So do these results mean that in the future we can go to the doctor to determine the size of the nucleolus in the body, and extrapolate our life expectancy?
, the researchers said it might be possible, but now they have a lot of work needs to be completed, and, more importantly, the researchers hope that this article research results can help people to monitor and effectively increase the body's health and longevity of intervention.

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