Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026
08:52
Measurement of Protein Turnover Rates in Senescent and Non-Dividing Cultured Cells with Metabolic Labeling and Mass Spectrometry
Published on: April 6, 2022
Epigenetic alterations in aging.
1Radiation and Cancer Biology Division, Dept. of Radiation Oncology, Washington Univ. School of Medicine, 4511 Forest Park, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA. sgonzalo@radonc.wustl.edu
Summary
Aging involves genetic and epigenetic changes. Epigenetic defects, including DNA methylation and histone modifications, are increasingly recognized as major factors in aging and age-related diseases like cancer.
Area of Science:
- Genomic instability and aging research.
- Epigenetics and molecular biology.
Background:
- Aging is characterized by genetic and epigenetic alterations.
- Historically, genetic factors like telomere attrition and DNA damage accumulation received more attention.
- Epigenetic mechanisms are now understood as key contributors to age-related genomic changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize evidence linking epigenetic defects to the pathophysiology of aging.
- To highlight the role of epigenetics in aging-related diseases, particularly cancer.
Main Methods:
- Review of current scientific literature on aging, genetics, and epigenetics.
- Analysis of the roles of DNA methylation, histone modifications, and noncoding RNAs in aging.
- Examination of the impact of epigenetic alterations on nuclear processes.
Main Results:
- Epigenetic mechanisms (DNA methylation, histone modifications, noncoding RNAs) are crucial in aging.
- Alterations in these mechanisms affect gene transcription, DNA repair, and genome stability.
- Epigenetic defects are implicated in aging and age-related diseases, including cancer.
Conclusions:
- Epigenetic defects are a significant factor in the aging process.
- Understanding these epigenetic changes is vital for addressing aging and related diseases.
- Epigenetic dysregulation may be a key driver of age-related pathologies like cancer.
Related Concept Videos
01:37Epigenetic Regulation
Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...
X-chromosome...
01:46Epigenetic Regulation
Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
01:46Epigenetic Regulation
Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
01:26Aging
Aging is a complex biological phenomenon influenced by various processes that affect cellular and systemic functions. Several prominent theories attempt to explain its mechanisms, highlighting cellular limitations, oxidative damage, and hormonal changes as central factors in aging.
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
01:19The Effect of Aging on Tissues
Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...
01:27Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...