My Biologist's Adventure #17 | Did You Know, What Causes Aging ?( Part-2)
“Aging Caused By Unstable DNA ?”
Premature aging was caused by a genetic diseases called Werner Syndrome. Osteoporosis, grey hair and many other age-related problems will start to develop in Werner Syndrome patient as early as their 20s and 30s. There will be a mutation in the WRN gene, it will cause these aged related problems to happen to the patient.
To keep the DNA inside our cells always stable, the protein made by the WRN gene is very important. The protein that produces the WRN gene will ensure and repair the DNA when it is damaged, and it also ensures the DNA can replicate properly when the cell is dividing. Telomeres, protective caps at the end of the chromosome also one of the WRN protein responsible to ensure the Telomeres work properly.
So, what is Telomeres, I have discussed these things in my previous post, I hope that you will read it okay. Okay back to our topic. There are two things that happen during normal aging, Telomere shortening and DNA repair problems. These two things also can cause accelerated aging.
The WRN protein keeps Heterochromatin stable and not only that, it also keeps the DNA work and functioning properly. If we stretch the DNA from every cell in our body, it would be two meters long, quite long right. So, DNA is packaged to make sure it fits inside the cell nuclei. It called Heterochromatin when it is tightly wound packaged, meanwhile it is called as Euchromatin when the packaged is looser.
In the older people Stem Cells, there is less WRN protein compare to the young people. Without WRN protein the Stem Cells will age faster than normal cells, and this process is called as Senescence. The Stem Cells without protein also will have less active and shorter Telomeres and there also many damage DNA than the normal cells. So, Heterochromatin in the WRN deficient cells is less. All of the premature aging sign was partially reverse when the WRN protein was activated in the Stem Cells.
To keep the Heterochromatin stable, the WRN protein will bind to the other protein. For these reasons, the WRN is very important to keep the stability of the Heterochromatin and this process will affect the speed of a cell to age. If this process works properly, the cells will age normally. If the process doesn't work properly, vice versa. So thanks for reading and keep following My Biologist's Adventure. Please read my post before about the factor of aging, you will be more understanding of this topic.
Reference and Further Reading
| TOPIC | WEBSITES |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia Aging | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ageing |
| What cause aging | https://leahcanscience.com/2014/10/20/what-causes-ageing/#more-268 |
| What cause aging ? | http://preventionpulse.com/beauty/10-habits-that-cause-rapid-aging/ |
| Hallmarks of Aging | http://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(13)00645-4 |
| What is Werner Syndrome Helicase ? | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werner_syndrome_helicase |
| Introduction of Heterochromatin | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterochromatin |
| What is Telomere | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telomere |
| Video Source | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZYTClx2T1of7BRZ86-8fow |
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