Scientists of the University of California have found a way to extend the life of a female fiber-throzophiles (fruit midges) by 20 % by manipulations with the so-called “cellular machine”. The object of their studies was mitochondria – cell structures of about 1 micrometer, which are responsible for the production of energy.
Scientists drew attention to the fact that in the body, Drosophile, as it ages, is reduced, the protein content DRP 1 is reduced. In this case, the form of mitochondria changes – they increase in size and become elongated. Scientists suggested that these processes are somehow interconnected and increased the content of DRP 1 protein cells.
The result was not slow to affect: the number of elongated mitochondria has decreased markedly, and the number of normal ones increased accordingly. In addition, Drosophils, who received an additional portion of DPR 1, lived much longer than their relatives – males by 12 %, and females – by 20 %.
Mitochondria (shown by green) Drosophile used in the study. The upper left picture is taken at the age of 10 days, the upper right —28 days, both lower pictures —at the age of 37 days. In this case, the right image shows a decrease in mitochondria to the size characteristic of younger individuals, after receiving the protein DRP1
It should be noted that scientists often use crodzophile flies in their experiments on the study of aging processes, since at the cellular level they are largely similar to the “human” aging aging. Based on the results, researchers hope to create in the future drugs that prolong human life.