Beijing, April 1 (Science Daily reporter Liu Xia) — According to a report by the American science website "Interesting Science" on March 30, scientists from the Department of Molecular Biology at the University of Wyoming have discovered through experimental research that proteins extracted from tiny tardigrades slow down the metabolic rate of human cells. This suggests that these proteins could be a crucial element in slowing down the human aging process. However, the researchers emphasize that further studies are necessary to confirm whether these proteins truly are the "fountain of youth." The findings were published in the latest issue of the "Journal of Protein Science."
The experimental research focused on tardigrades, minuscule eight-legged creatures renowned for their superhero-like survival capabilities. Tardigrades can survive extreme conditions such as severe dehydration and outer space, and can even withstand being shot without injury. To survive, they transform into a dehydrated ball and reduce their metabolism to nearly zero.
In the recent study, scientists found that a protein found on tardigrades — the CAHS protein — also slows down the metabolic rate of human cells cultured in laboratory dishes.
The lead author of the study, Silvia Sanchez-Martinez, remarked, "Surprisingly, once these proteins enter human cells, they aggregate and slow down metabolism. When we induced a state of biostasis in human cells containing the CAHS protein, the human proteins became more stress-resistant, as if the human cells had acquired some of the tardigrades' abilities."
In a state of biostasis, organisms can withstand adverse environmental changes, such as surviving for extended periods without water. The protein that induces biostasis in tardigrades has a similar effect on human cells. This groundbreaking discovery provides clues for slowing down the human aging process.
The researchers also found that the entire process is reversible: when the stress is reduced, the tardigrade gel dissolves, and the human cells return to their normal metabolic state. This means that cell metabolism can return to normal after biostasis ends.
