Scientists have long believed that calorie restriction plays a role helping to slow the aging process in humans, but until now the specific process has been a mystery. As reported by Gizmag, researchers at the University of Gothenburg now think they can name one of the enzymes that gets a boost from calorie restriction and helps to keep the body functioning as it ages.
Peroxiredoxin 1, or Prx1, is an enzyme that breaks down hydrogen peroxide in the cells. According to Gizmag, the enzyme is an essential part of the body that often gets damaged and stops functioning properly during aging. Calorie restriction, however, counteracts this process by boosting the enzyme Srx1, which in turn repairs Prx1.
Not only is this good news for those looking for a way to fight aging, it’s a breakthrough for scientists researching other diseases and disorders. According to the University of Gothenburg’s Mikael Molin, Prx1 also helps ward off certain types of cancer.
“Impaired PRx1 function leads to various types of genetic defects and cancer,” explained Molin, who heads the university’s Department of Cell and Molecular Biology. “Conversely, we can now speculate whether increased repair of Prx1 during aging can counteract, or at least delay, the development of cancer.”
Gizmag noted that calorie restriction isn’t the only way boost levels of Prx1. For those who love to eat, researchers also discovered that Prx1 levels are heightened by the direct increase of Srx1 in the cell.
The study can be found online here, in the journal Molecular Cell.
