A non-canonical role of nucleoporins in bridging energy sensing and aging
In response to changes in food availability, animals rewire their metabolism for survival, activating metabolic defenses to promote healthspan and longevity. The nuclear pore, a massive protein complex that gates all transport between the cell’s information center, the nucleus, and the rest of the cell, is absolutely required for healthy aging. However, the complexity of the nuclear pore complex makes the granular determination of the age-related role of specific proteins that make up the pore, or “nucleoporins”, challenging. Dr. Zhou’s research identifies a specific nucleoporin that ties energy sensing to the activation of metabolic stress defenses in aging. Activation of this nucleoporin is sufficient to extend lifespan by activating favorable metabolic changes in aging animals. This project expects to reveal an ancient role of nucleoporins in promoting favorable metabolic changes in aging, thereby putting forward new strategies to promote healthy aging and mitigate age-associated diseases.
