Could Targeting This Enzyme Slow Aging and Related Diseases?

Investigating the enzyme D-amino acid oxidase (DAO), which stops cells from dividing, could be an avenue for research into how to slow aging and treat aging-related diseases, reports Medical News Today . Researchers at Kobe University in Japan found that, in the process of metabolizing D-amino acids, DAO produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) — a group of unstable molecules that cause cell stress. Stressors such as DNA damage and ROS prompt cells into senescence, an irreversible state in which they can no longer replicate. The finding uncovers a molecular mechanism that has been missing in previous research that has connected ROS to cell senescence and aging. ROS are key players in the biology of aging and many diseases that tend to increase with advancing age, such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, diabetes, and many cancers. The study adds to a growing understanding of the role of senescent cells in this relationship and identifies a previously unknown role for DAO. The researchers concluded: "Our results clearly show a novel function of DAO as a promoter of DNA damage-induced senescence, which may provide new insights into the roles of D-amino acids in various physiological and pathological processes including senescence, cancer, and aging."