FOXO1 and ETV6 genes may represent novel regulators of splicing factor expression in cellular senescence

What is it about?

All cells contain the information needed for life, but not every gene is active in all tissues. When a gene is activated, it sends out a message called mRNA, containing the instructions to make the gene product. Each gene is capable of producing a number of different mRNAs, and ability to do so is critical for ensuring the organism can respond to internal and external stresses. The decline in ability to respond to stresses is a key feature of ageing in multiple species. Our previous work suggests that the factors which determine which mRNA to make and where declines during the ageing process, and that this may underpin many of the features of ageing at the cellular level. In the work here we explore how signals from outside the cell can influence the choice of mRNAs made, and investigate how these signals may affect some of the potential genes that may determine this choice. We show that not only do these signals change in aged cells, but this also has effects on the factors that influence which mRNA is made. We then go on to show that it is possible to partially reverse some features of ageing in these cells by using chemicals to switch off the signals, or by inactivating some of the genes that respond to these signals. These findings may help us to understand the ageing process better at the molecular level, and point to new avenues to remedy or guard against age-related disease in the future.

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