Scientists in Japan have discovered a protein that can slow down aging process while preventing the formation of zombie cells in the body.
As we get older, some cells survive longer and accumulate in the body instead of ending. These zombie cells increase the risk of age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s, heart failure, and some types of cancer.
Now in a new study, researchers in Japan have found about a protein called HKDC1, which is important for the maintenance of damaged mitochondria (the energy center of cells) and the repair of lysosomes (which break down and clean damaged parts of damaged cells).
When mitochondria and lysosomes don’t work the way they should, the cells don’t function regularly and become zombies.
According to scientists, a healthy cell keeps old age away, which means that drugs targeting HKDC1 can treat age-related diseases.
To date, researchers did not fully understand the function of mitochondria and lysosomes. However, they knew that factor EB (TFEB) is involved in all this.
Scientists at Osaka University found that HKDC1 is important in helping to increase the amount of TFEB.
According to the researchers, low doses of HKDC1 may cause mitochondria to become inactive and the accumulation of damaged lysosomes. But the presence of adequate amounts of protein helps to clear mitochondrial waste and restore lysosomes from damage.
