Ubiquitin refers to a compound that is present within the living cells ad is responsible for the degradation of superfluous and defective proteins. It is known as a single-chain polypeptide that till now was popular for controlling numerous processes such as metabolism and signal transduction.
A group of researchers recently did a complete quantitative analysis of ubiquitin signatures between aging within the model organism, referred to as Caenorhabditiselegans. The organism is a nematode worm that is popularly used in the scientific world for aging research. The newly published study suggests protein ubiquitin is a crucial player where the regulation of the aging process is concerned. The findings brought forth by the team could lead to great advancement in the Anti-Aging Products Market as it provides comprehensive data that would help product developers better understand the concept of aging and longevity.
The method used in the research is known as ubiquitin proteomics. It measures all changes within the protein’s ubiquitination that happen inside a cell. The data captured from the technical details all the quantitative changes taking place in ubiquitin and provides site-specific information as changes occur all across the proteins in a cell during aging.
The team also made a comparison with the entire protein content of a cell which showed that changes taking place in protein turnover as well as actual protein content have functional consequences. Thus, researchers found that new regulators of lifespan offer a collective data set that facilitates in broadening one's concepts of longevity and aging.
Researchers further provided that their study of ubiquitin changes paved the way for numerous exciting conclusions involving crucial insights on the aging process. They also discovered that the process of aging often leads to changes in the ubiquitination of a large number of proteins. On the other hand, longevity evaluations such as reduced insulin signaling and food intake help preventing these changes.
The study backed by evidence suggests that aging leads to a general loss of ubiquitination. This occurs due to the enzymes that are responsible for removing ubiquitin from proteins as they become more active during aging. Generally, ubiquitinated proteins are identified and destroyed by the proteasome (garage truck of the cell). In addition, the researchers demonstrated that an organism's longevity is demonstrated by age-related changes that happen during the degradation of proteasome’s structural and regulatory proteins.
The team is hopeful that with all the findings they have managed to provide, there will be ubiquitin-modified proteome new ways that could be paved in delaying the aging process and enhance the quality of life experienced by people of old age. Furthermore, they have successfully liked aging and general changes occurring in the ubiquitin-modified proteome.