High throughput screening technology and the small molecules modulating aging related signals

Aging and its related diseases are severe issues in modern society. Many efforts have been made to understand the mechanisms of aging and to find the ways to prevent age-related diseases. Identifying the compounds targeting aging-related signals is a challenging work because there are so many proteins and signals involved. Recently, alone with the progresses in high throughput screening (HTS) technology, increasing numbers of small molecules targeting aging-related pathologic processes have been identified. In this review, we introduce the basic workflow, classification and assay strategies of HTS technology, and sort out known small molecules identified via HTS technology by their roles in aging related diseases, such as neural degenerative diseases, diabetes and tumors. Given the fact that application of HTS on aging research is still at an early stage, we also summarize the cellular mechanisms about aging process, paralleled with the compounds which can modulate the functions of proteins important for aging signals. Finally, we briefly discuss some advanced HTS technologies for their potent applications on the discovery of anti-aging compounds. The main purpose of this review is to provide updated and useful information to those who are interested in pharmacology and HTS technology, but not familiar with aging biology, or vice versa.