Discovery of a hidden epigenetic clock in mitochondria reveals a 'lifespan limit line'

Originally published by Eötvös Loránd University on August 26, 202

 

N6-methyladenine levels in the C. elegans mitochondrial genome gradually increase with age. (A) The 6mA progressively accumulates at different mtDNA sites (mito 3 and mito 4) during aging. (A’) Quantification of the relative mtDNA 6mA levels at different adult stages. Bars indicate ±S.D.; each comparison reveals ***: p < 0.001 significance. Credit: International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023). DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914858

Building on their work on epigenetics of aging and transposable elements, researchers Dr. Ádám Sturm and Dr. Tibor Vellai from Eötvös Loránd University have made another advance in understanding the molecular mechanisms of aging. Their latest study, published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, reveals a novel epigenetic mechanism in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) that could transform our approach to aging research and diagnostics.

In their previous articles, "The mechanism of aging: Primary role of transposable elements in genome disintegration" and "Downregulation of transposable elements extends lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans", Dr. Sturm and Dr. Vellai established the crucial role of transposable elements in the aging process. Their current research expands on this foundation, uncovering a new layer of complexity in cellular aging.

The research team has discovered that a previously hidden DNA modification, N6-methyladenine (6mA), that progressively accumulates in mtDNA as organisms age. This phenomenon was observed across diverse species, including the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, and dogs, suggesting an evolutionary conserved mechanism in the aging process across all animal species.

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