Leveraging gametogenesis-specific rejuvenation pathways to counteract cellular aging
At the cellular level, aging manifests as an accumulation of conserved physiological defects that eventually cause functional decline, disease, and organismal death. Excitingly, the germline contains inherent rejuvenation pathways that prevent age-associated damage from being passed onto progeny. Gametogenesis is the process by which a diploid progenitor cell undergoes cell division (meiosis) and differentiation to produce haploid gametes (called “egg” and “sperm” in humans) that are required for sexual reproduction. Studies in budding yeast have revealed that gametogenesis eliminates age-associated damage thus resetting the lifespan of the resulting gametes. Remarkably, ectopic expression of Ndt80, a meiotic transcription factor, is sufficient to extend replicative lifespan. Dr. Sing’s research seeks to use budding yeast as a model to identify gametogenesis-specific rejuvenation pathways that can be leveraged to prevent or eliminate aging biomarkers and extend cellular healthspan.
