Targeting the epitranscriptome to promote healthy lifespan
Protein synthesis becomes dysregulated as we age. Some types of RNA molecules provide a template for protein synthesis, while others partially comprise the molecular machines performing protein synthesis itself. These RNA molecules carry hundreds of poorly understood chemical modifications, which can influence protein synthesis. In this study, Dr. Schosserer aims to investigate how the chemical modification patterns of different types of RNA change during the aging of nematode worms, human kidney cells, and mice. His group will also engineer specific modifications and test if they can extend worms' healthy lifespan or increase the stress resistance of human kidney cells. If successful, RNA modifications might provide novel biomarkers for the aging process and potential drug targets.
